MAU DEMANDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 9 August 1937, Page 9

MAU DEMANDS

UNREST IN SAMOA. DEPUTATION TO N.Z. Excitement and indignation are manifest amongst Europeans in Western Samoa as the result of recent occurrences in and around Apia, writes the Apia correspondent of the Auckland Star under date July 24. It is believed in some quarters that the New Zealand Government’s lenient and conciliatory policy towards the natives has been regarded by some of the natives as a sign of weakness, that this policy may create a dangerous political situation, as the Man growing more assertive from day to day, appears to he striving to abolish New Zealand rule altogether and reolace it by a socalled “Government of Samoa.” At a recent meeting of the Legislative Council pertinent questions were asked by the Samoan members which indicated a desire of the Mau movement to obtain virtual control of the administration of the territory. During a discussion on the relatively unimportant Land Survey Ordinance, the Samoan members, Hon. Tamasese and Hon. Tuala, moved repeatedly that the usual legal phraseology of the ordinance, which refers to “Crown land,” and “at His Majesty’s pleasure” be deleted from the ordinance and be replaced by the term “Government of Samoa,” which would mean in effect a change in the constitution of the territory under the mandate. “Government of Samoa” means to the Samoans government by the Mau. It was announced at the same Council meeting by the acting-Administrator (Mr A. C. Turnbull) that the Government of New Zealand had agreed to receive a deputation of the Fono of Faipule (native Parliament), which is to proceed to New Zealand in two months’ time to lay before the New Zealand Government various demands of the Fono of Faipule and the Mau movement, which are practically identical owing to the Fono having a large Mau majority. These requests of the Mau, to be presented in New Zealand by the deputation comprised of Mr 0. F. Nelson, Miss Olive Nelson, his daughter, as legal adviser, Hon. Tamasese, M.L.C., son-in-law of Mr Nelson, and Alipia. Speaker of the Fono of Faipule, are,

in short, the following:— The repatriation of all Chinese plantation labourers from the territory. All laws and ordinances passed by the Legislative Council to be submitted for approval subsequently to the Samoan Fono of Faipule. Appointment of Mr 0. F. Nelson as F.aatonu (official adviser of the Administration on Samoan affairs), his appointment to the Legislative Council and to the Finance Board. An official appointment in the Administration lor Miss Olive Nelson. Salaries of £3OO per annum to be paid to the Fautua's (native advisers) of the Administration. A large increase in the number-of Samoan judges, plantation inspectors, each one provided with # personal servants as messengers. Representation of Samoans on the banana scheme, aiming at Mau control of the latter. Wages of Samoan officials to be raised to the standard of wages of New Zealand European officials. INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE. It may be pointed out that these demands of the Mau, most of which have been declined previously by the New Zealand Government, incidentally involve a large increase in expenditure to which the Samoans at present do not contribute anything in the way of direct taxes. It would mean that the burden of taxation whi<®n the Europeans ! have to bear would be further in-, creased. Mr Nelson, a 6 is well-known, is one of the leading merchants of Samoa. His term of exile in New Zealand was remitted by the Government and he was sent back to his native country a free and rehabilitated man, trusted to do his utmost to bring about normal conditions of peace and harmony between the New Zealand Government and the Samoan people. EUROPEAN ASSAULTED. An incident, characteristic of the present attitude of the Mau, occurred on the evening of July 20, when a well-known European resident, Mr W. Clark, was riding a bicycle along the public main road leading through the Samoan village Vaimoso, where the headquarters of the Mau movement are situated. Samoan festivities had

been taking place commemorating the late High Chief Tanmsese by the distribution of fine mats. Mr Clark was stopped by a number of Mau police who asked him to step off his bicycle and walk through the village. It was alleged that when Mr Clark indignantly refused to do so he was assaulted, struck in the neck and thrown from his bicycle and struck in the face and injured when on the ground. Mr Clark lodged complaints with the acting-Administrator. the police and leader of the Mau, High Chief Tamasese. The European-elected members of the Legislative Council. Hon. A. G. Smyth and Hon. 1. H. Carruthers, waited on the acting-Administrator and lodged a protest. The occurrence caused widespread indignation and excitement among the European population. The actingAdministrator reported the matter to the New Zealand,Government. SIX MEN ON TRIAL.

On July 21 six members of the Mau police were placed under arrest by the Supervisor of Native Police, High Chief Faumuina, former leader of the Mau. One of the arrested men pleaded guilty to assault. The charges were heard before Chief Judge S. Morling, with Samoan Judge Anapu as assessor. The tidal ended with the dismissal of five of the men, who were charged with obstructing a public road, the Chief Judge stating that there was nothing in the evidence before the Court to prove obstruction. The Samoan Ueui. Mau policeman, charged with assault of Mr Clark, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment.

oust before tlie Court trial concluded a large party of Mau adherents from the Falealili district, in war dress and with war paint, passed the Court building, marching along the main beach road to the Mau headquarters at Vaimoso. The natives were in jubilant mood, shouting and singing. Near the Court two shots were fired by somebody in a group of people.