A.—4b,
this meeting was described as tlie first fono ever held where white people and Samoans combined. It is to our mind somewhat singular that Mr. Nelson should have completely forgotten the meeting at Mr. Meredith's house, because we are satisfied that it was at this meeting that the course was determined upon of calling a public meeting to be attended by Europeans and Samoans. The public meeting was accordingly held on the evening of the 15th October, 1926, at the Market Hall, and it was attended by Europeans and a large attendance of Samoans. An account of what took place thereat is given in a report by Inspector Braisby (Appendix No. 1) and in the minutes of the public meeting put in (Exhibit No. 52). It is sufficient to say that at this meeting two committees were appointed—the European committee, consisting of Messrs. Nelson, Williams, Westbrook, Gurr, Smyth, Baxter, Cobcroft, S. Meredith, and Meyer, and a Native committee, consisting of six Samoans—namely, Lago Lago, Faumuina, Ainu'u, Tuisila, Alipia, and Tofaeono. Messrs. Baxter, Cobcroft, and Meyer subsequently seceded from the committee. The three European Legislative Councillors were to be ex officio members of the committee, which was styled the Citizens Committee. At this meeting sub-committees were formed to prepare reports on the various matters which it was designed should be brought under the notice of the Minister. Before the holding of this first meeting an intimation was received that the Minister of External Affairs would not be able to visit Samoa until the following May. The adjourned public meeting was held on the 12th November, 1926, and at this meeting the reports prepared by the various sub-committees were read, and given what afterwards appears to have been very superficial consideration. The same can be said of the consideration given by the Citizens Committee at its meeting held prior to this meeting. After these meetings, according to Mr. Nelson, a number of Samoans saw him and requested representation on the committee. Mr. Nelson accordingly formed a further and supporting committee, consisting exclusively of Natives, and this committee was functioning when the Minister of External Affairs arrived in Apia. This supporting committee evidently became numerically very large, and it is said that it contained representative Samoans from every Faipule district of Western Samoa. In consequence of the delay which took place in the projected visit of the Minister of External Affairs to Samoa, it was decided to send a deputation consisting of Europeans and Samoans to New Zealand for the purpose of interviewing the Minister. The Minister agreed to receive a European deputation, but said that he would not receive a Samoan delegation until he was assured that they were really representative of the Samoan race, and that their views on Native affairs were endorsed by the Fono of Faipules. The following Natives applied for permits to leave Samoa —namely, Ainu'u, Tofaeono, Alipia, Tuisila, Lago Lago, and Faumuina. They informed the Inspector of Police that the complete expenses of their journey would be paid by the Citizens Committee, and they wished to leave Samoa by the January, 1927, steamer. The Inspector of Police refused the permits. In consequence of the permits being refused Mr. Samuel Meredith proceeded to New Zealand in January, 1927, and published and circulated a pamphlet which has been put in evidence. (Exhibit No. 12). In March, 1927, a petition was prepared purporting to be from " the chiefs and orators of Western Samoa who have been* authorized to represent the large majority of the Samoan people owing to their increasing dissatisfaction with certain features of the New Zealand Administration in Samoa." This petition was sent to New Zealand for presentation. No mention, however, was made either to the Administrator or to the Minister of External Affairs when he arrived in Apia of the preparation of this petition, or of the intention to present it to Parliament. As will be later narrated, Native delegates were in November, 1926, sent to Savai'i to collect subscriptions for the Mau, and to distribute the circular " 0 le Fono Tele " (Exhibit No. 10). The Minister of External Affairs arrived in Apia on the 2nd June, 1927, and had a meeting with the Citizens Committee, including the Native members ; an account of the proceedings of this meeting is contained in State paper A. 4b. At
XXIII
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