III

During an early inspection I had occasion to inflict one or two fines. These the European Inspector was not actually allowed to impose himself, but had to order the Native Inspector of Lands to do so. This peculiar procedure, it was explained to me, was designed with an eye to framing reports for the League of Nations. (Presumably so that it could be said that only Commissioners of the Court among European officials inflicted fines.) During the course of our journey the Native Inspector of Lands developed eye-trouble which rendered him temporarily blind, and I had to leave him for a few days at his own village. On my way up the coast, prior to the inspection, I had noticed that a section of road belonging to the village of Neiafu, we had particularly ordered to be cleared of scrub, had not been touched. A warning had already been issued. The Samoans are quick to take advantage of any weakness, and they will try with a new official to see how far they can go. I suspected such a test in this case, and accordingly took the Native Inspector's fine-book with me. The road had not been cleared; we had been issuing fines on this inspection, and in common fairness had to be consistent; I fined the village collectively the sum of one pound. At the next Faipule Fono in Apia, the Faipule of Neiafu raised the matter, although I doubt strongly if it was of his own initiative. General Richardson, I was informed, page 175replied: "We cannot have the European Inspectors issuing fines in this fashion!" and cancelled the fine. (He also said that no communal fines were to be issued under any circumstances.) Anyone with administrative experience, I think, would agree that the proper reply would have been, "I will inquire into the matter"; even if he had already determined to cancel the fine or to reprimand or even to sack the European official.

On looking back at incidents such as these, it seems to me somewhat surprising that a district of mine should have won the agricultural contest for 1924.