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Zealand and the present Prime Minister, said: "We have great faith that through them the Samoan people will gain what they are looking for . . . the right to exercise their own Government with the advice and protection of New Zealand." The concept of " advice and protection " was taken from the case of Tonga, where a British Consul and Agent exercises such powers on behalf of the British Government. 38. Past relations between New Zealand and Western Samoa throw light upon this part of the petition. Clearly there is dissatisfaction with the existing form of Government. Yet, at the same time, the terms of the petition prove that Samoan leaders do not question the good will of the New Zealand Government and its interest in the welfare of the territory. 39. New Zealand has done much for Samoa. In exercising the international Mandate it has had no thought of exploiting to its own profit the islands and the population of Western Samoa. The economic interests of the Samoans have been put first, even at times in the face of strong pressure from non-Samoan interests. A case in point has been the progressive repatriation and exclusion of Asiatic labourers in •order to safeguard the integrity of the Samoan people. Alienation of lands to Europeans has been prohibited. Public health, education, and other welfare services have been greatly advanced. Samoan customs have been respected. Substantial money grants have been given for development and welfare to supplement local revenues. 40. At the same time, New Zealand's role has been a difficult one. Through the greater part of its thirty-three years of rule it has lacked the freedom to develop the kind of policies for Samoa which it wished. From 1915 to 1920 its regime was a military Government under the laws of belligerent occupation. The Germans had suppressed the highest Samoan political organization, and this had generated resentment against outside rule. Influential German settlers during the first years of the New Zealand administration, and some of their partSamoan descendants, have shown little sympathy with New Zealand. A number of them were interned during the last war. After 1920 the first zealous efforts of New Zealand to develop a vigorous programme of progress and welfare —which history records as having pressed the Samoans too hard—collapsed in the face of the Mau movement. The non-co-operation of the Mau practically paralysed the administration, by the will of the Samoans themselves, from 1926 to 1936. The sharp world economic depression of the 1930's added increased difficulties. 41. In 1936 the new Labour Government in New Zealand sent a goodwill mission " to Samoa. Making its peace with the Mau, it launched a constructive political programme. Then came the Second World War from 1939 to 1945, during which continued normal development was hampered by the difficulties of maritime transport, supply, and other factors. Since the war new forward steps have been taken.