A. —4b.

You suggest now that they did not have your approval ?—They had my approval. Then go back to the Medical Department: have you at any time taken examine and verify the report and what is in it ?—That was a matter of dee]) study. And you have not given it that deep study ? —I have not got the time. Arid would the position be the same regarding the other reports —that you had not the time to give that deep study ?—Yes. And as for the other members of the committee, as far as you know, did they give these reports deep study ?—I cannot tell you. And when they were read, you heard no detailed discussion at that meeting ?—No, that I cannot tell you. They were discussing all things in a general way, but to what extent I cannot remember. Matters have come before the Legislative Council regarding Native affairs ? They generally come before the Council as remits from the Fono of Faipule, do they not ?—I cannot say. No one knows what the Faipule are doing at all. We have never met them, have never been introduced to them. Have you not been told on every occasion that the matters before you have been discussed by the Fono of Faipules ?—Yes, we have been told that. And so if that were correct the Natives have already had an opportunity of discussing the matters ?—I have my doubts about that in one way. The Faipule might have discussed that, but not the Natives generally. If that statement be correct that will mean that the Fono of Faipule will have had an opportunity of discussing the matter ?—I suppose so. Do you suggest you have been told incorrectly that thev have been before the Fono of Faipule ?— No. So that the possibility you suggest is that the Faipule may not have discussed the matters with their own people ? —Yes. If that were so that would be a default 011 the part of the Faipule ? —1 should say so. You would not suggest that all the Faipule would disregard the wishes of their own people —1 would not. Then, do I understand that such things may happen in occasional cases ? —lt may happen very often. The Faipule should discuss it with his District Council ?—I should say so. If the District Council in any case were ignored, could it not complain to the Administrator of the neglect of the Faipule ?—I suppose it could. So that if that defect were remedied Native matters could be properly discussed by the Natives themselves ?—lf the Faipu le were the proper representatives of the people. Answer the question. If that defect were remedied, Native matters could be properly discussed by the Natives themselves ?—Yes. Do you suggest further, then, that there should be two elected Samoans on the Legislative Council ?—I do. And do I understand that those should be chosen from the Faipule : do you suggest that ? —I think they should be separate from the Faipule. It would be requisite for these two representatives to understand English well ?—lt would not be necessary with a good interpreter. It would be very much better if they did understand English ? —lt would be better. To enable them to understand the trend of each debate ?—Probably it would. Would it be practicable to have a debate on any matter when the speech of every speaker would have to be translated sentence by sentence to enable the Samoan members to understand ? —I think so. Our meetings are very short, as far as that goes. You think it would be practicable ? —I think it would be practicable. If those eligible for election were restricted to the English-speaking Samoans the choice would be exceedingly limited ? —Yes, there are a good many Samoans speak English, The choice would be limited ? —lt would be limited. How do you suggest they should be elected ? —I should say, fa'a-Samoa, in accordance with their customs. What do you mean by that ? —The malais and heads of families would get together and talk the matter over with their chiefs and men of high families. And how would you divide these—into two districts, or would you have two members elected from all over Western Samoa irrespective of where they come from ? —I do not make any suggestion. You have put forward a proposition : have you not considered the details ?—They should make the suggestion themselves. Would you have two political districts with one member from each, or would you have two members from the whole of Samoa ?—Two members from the whole of Samoa. Do you suggest that the matais of the whole of Western Samoa should get together to select their men I—lt would not be necessary. How otherwise would you do it I—ln their own districts, and send their conclusions along. Suppose their conclusions were not the same ? —I think they would agree in the end. How would you come to an agreement I—As1 —As a rule they do come to an agreement in their fa'a-Samoa ways. You can suggest 110 manner of bringing the matter to a conclusion if they did not agree ? —No. Mr. Baxter.] You said that when this committee's report came up for discussion the conditions were then different to what they are now. What do you mean by saying that the conditions were different I—The1 —The reports were really drawn up for the Minister of External Affairs. He was expected to visit Samoa, and they were really drawn up as a matter for discussion.

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