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Appendix xii
N.Z. Samoan Defence League

From the nature of your calling as a servant of the Lord of Righteousness, the moral welfare of our country must be a matter of supreme importance.

Because of this we venture to send you a few facts well known to us concerning the Administration of Samoa, and the shocking behaviour of some of the Officials there during the late regime, which has been partly responsible for the past and present Samoan unrest.

You must know that the Samoans are a highly moral race and the honour of their sons and daughters is as dear to them as is the honour of others in any part of the Empire.

The following facts will show you how great a blow has been struck against the moral tone of the Samoan people and incidentally to the prestige of British officialdom the world over.

Until such malpractices as those stated herein met the fierce light of public exposure, the Englishman in Samoa was regarded as one to be admired, looked up to and emulated; but read what follows and judge how far he has fallen from his high estate.

The Report of the Public Service Commission, even in the abbreviated form in which part of it has been released, discloses some very disquieting facts, which call for very serious thought on the part of those who consider the grave responsibility resting upon New Zealand's actions under the Mandatory powers over Western Samoa, conferred upon our Government by the League of Nations.

As touching some of the peculiar grievances of the Samoans the following facts are recited.

1.	It is stated positively as a fact that liquor was smuggled page 310into Samoa by persons in Official positions, as well as by private individuals.
2.	That subordinate positions have been lost to civil servants, who have refused to take liquor ashore, as well as perform other unlawful acts at the behest of some of their seniors in the service.
3.	That opium has been smuggled into Apia in much larger quantities than can be accounted for, and that for some time past several officials have been suspected of participating in this lawless and degrading traffic.
4.	That public money has been stolen by responsible officials and that those guilty persons have not been brought to trial. In one case after the late inquiry made its investigation an important official blew his brains out.
5.	That a native married woman was forcibly violated within a month of her confinement by a Government Official (who was already the father of half-caste illegitimate children) and that this man escaped to American Samoa in the Government launch whence he took ship to foreign parts and thus avoided punishment and his paternal responsibilities.
6.	That a deputy administrator or Resident Commissioner of the island of Savaii, well known as a drunkard and moral pervert, was allowed to retain his post long after his evil record had become public property. His evil deeds among the males, especially the youths and even prisoners, of the island, became such a raging scandal that at last the Administration ordered an inquiry, but before the Inquiring Commission commenced its investigations, this Resident Commissioner committed suicide.
7.	That a school teacher from New Zealand placed in charge of the important school of Vaipouli became notorious for the same evil practices against morality and decency. He was removed to another school near Apia where he continued his vile acts, although his shocking behaviour, both at Vaipouli and Apia, must have been well known to the Administration at the time he was returned to New Zealand. The facts of this man's evil life must have been suppressed, for on his return he was appointed to a school in the South Island where he continued his evil ways and ended in murdering his wife and taking his own life.
8.	That a subordinate officer, a Government Official, who had frequent sexual intercourse with a Samoan woman and page 311after he had become the father of two illegitimate half-caste children, was married to a European woman. An Administrator, who should have known this man's shameful conduct, not only attended the wedding, but gave the bride to this individual, causing an unfavourable and hostile impression among Samoans.
9.	9. It is no secret that a roulette table was operated at the house of a High Official and that heavy losses have been made by those unable to afford them. The homes of Chinese and others have been raided for playing for much smaller stakes.

One might write copiously, tabulating the large number of statements of this nature, which have been made from public platforms and other places in Auckland, but the foregoing should be sufficient to bring the blush of shame to every honest face in New Zealand and cause them to demand that a full, searching and open inquiry be made into the whole matter.

Can you, as a servant of Christ, remain silent or inactive while such dreadful charges are made against our fellow-citizens in Samoa? Can you be deaf to the cry of outraged women and of children despoiled of their natural heritage brought unwanted into life to satisfy bestial lust?

If not, then we invite you to co-operate with us in our request to the Prime Minister to have the whole matter thoroughly investigated and the good name of New Zealand saved from further reproach.

Can we be surprised at the Samoans en masse resisting administration of this kind?