Warnings Ignored.

I had long forseen the trouble. It was with that knowledge that warned the Administrator in 1925 against his banishment policy. That I only interviewed him in regard to the banishment of some Safune chiefs was because I had visited my own people in Safune and had gained firsthand knowledge of the circumstances. The Administrator, who had, like his predecessors, always been pleased to consult me on Native matters, and appreciated my willing assistance whenever called upon, showed no inclination to discuss with me his policy of banishment, deprivation of titles, and other matters which he must have known I would strongly advise him against.

I feared the consequence of these policies, but there was no opening for me to intervene until I had acquainted myself with the facts. This came after my visit to Safune, when I made bold to approach the Administrator on the question. The Faipule at Safune is a near relative of mine, and most probably advised the banishment of the Safune chiefs, but I told the Administrator I thought it was wrong. Sir George Richardson told the Mandates Commission that there was great jealousy among the Samoan chiefs, yet he set up a board of his own Faipules to advise on the banishment of their rival chiefs. At that interview I informed Sir George Richardson that the banishment system as at present constituted enabled the Faipules of to-day to advise the banishment of their rivals, and thus pay off old scores; but such a system can only result in the creation of new feuds, which would be more bitter than ever. Should the descendants of the banished chiefs of to-day become the Faipules of to-morrow, it is only natural that they would square matters with their rivals with increased vengeance.

I called on the Prime Minister and the Minister of External Affairs in Wellington on the 1st September, 1926, and acquainted them with my fears of the impending trouble. They promised personal investigation by the Hon. W. Nosworthy on the following month (October). He did not arrive until June 2nd, 1927. It was too late: the cloud had burst, but, thanks to the activities of the Citizens' Committee of Samoans and Europeans, the matter was kept well in hand, and the Samoans had agreed to the firm resolution to work along peaceful lines. Had the Minister taken a little notice of the representations of the Citizens' Committee between October, 1926, and his arrival, the more serious aspects of the trouble might still have been averted.