11—A. 4b.

A. —4b.

Tell the Commission one. Surely, if several of the Samoans discussed the matter you can remember the name of even one ? —I cannot tell you just now, Mr. Meredith. I suppose you understood the responsibility of issuing those reports to the Samoans ? —ln what way ? Did you not appreciate that it might cause unrest amongst the Samoans to see those reports ? — There was unrest before this movement started. I put it to you that it might increase any unrest that already exists ?—I do not think it increased the unrest. Did you see the possibility that these reports might have increased the unrest ? —I did not think so. You never thought of that ? —I did not think of it, but I knew it would not increase the unrest. What makes you think it would not increase it ? —Because they were all waiting the arrival of the Minister to get the grievances settled by him. I take it that you intended that the Natives should attend these meetings ? —They came there on their own free will; they were not asked. Did you and the other members who became members of the committee wish them to be at the meeting ? —No ; it was a public meeting, and it was open to everybody. The Chairman : We were told that the Natives came from all parts of the island and from parts of Savai'i. Mr. Meredith.'] What was the idea of publishing a notice in the Samoan language in your picturetheatre ?—To let them know that there was to be a public meeting, to be held in the Market Hall. The bulk of your patrons at the pictures are Samoans, are they not ? —The majority of the patrons are Samoans. And was not the object of this notice in the Samoan language particularly to attract the Samoans to this particular meeting ? —No, sir. The Chairman : You need not ask that question, surely, Mr. Meredith, because it must be obvious, no matter what the witness may say ; it could have had no other purpose. (To witness :) You heard what I said?— Yes. It is only a question of common-sense, and any statement to the contrary I do not believe, sitting here as a judicial tribunal ?—The reason why it was announced was to call a public meeting. It was a meeting called to make arrangements for the arrival of the Minister of External Affairs. The Chairman : So far as I am concerned, that has nothing to do with the purpose of the meeting. I only want to let you know that we are a thinking tribunal, and do not swallow everything that is said to us. Mr. Meredith.} After the meetings pamphlets were sent out with Famuina and Ainu'u ? —I believe they were. Did you not know ?—No, I did not know. Who arranged that ? —lt was arranged at the meeting. Did you see the pamphlets that were sent out ? —Afterwards. You did not see them before ? —No. Here is a translation of the pamphlet [translation handed to witness] : do you suggest that the Citizens Committee was justified in issuing anything of that nature to the Samoans ?-—ls the translation correct ? Assuming that this is the right translation, would that be a proper thing for the Citizens Committee to issue it to the Samoans ? —Not those words. [Words referred to pointed out to witness.] They are much too strong, are they not ? —Yes, one or two words there. Of course, lam assuming that the translation is correct. We are assuming that the translation is correct. This pamphlet on " Western Samoa " was issued by you ?—-Yes. Did you draw it up ? —I drew it up from the file and from the committee's file. You issued this pamphlet to every member of Parliament, did you not ?—I think I did. And handed it to the New Zealand press ? —I think I did. I left that with an agent to distribute. To whom ?—Members of Parliament and whoever he thought fit. Including the press ? —Yes. Did you distribute it in Samoa on your return ? —Yes. Do you think that is a fair and temperate statement of the position ?—That is my opinion. And" in pursuance of the general work of the Citizens Committee subscriptions were gathered from the Natives ? —They came in themselves, I think ; but I know that there was a subscription list sent around to the Europeans. What about the one to the Natives : did you have anything to do with the subscriptions from the Natives ?■—No. And you say that subscriptions are coming in from the Natives at present ? —Yes. And have been for some months ? —Well, I do not know, because Mr. Smyth was treasurer. How long have you been treasurer ? —Since Mr. Smyth left —that is, July of this year. And since that time you have been getting no subscriptions from the Natives ?■ —The first month there was hardly anything coming in until we received a radio from Sir John Findlay that there was nothing to stop the Natives from paying in what money they wished towards the fund. You communicated that to the Natives, I take it ? —Through the secretary. Did you hand the communication on through the secretary ? —I did. And then the funds started to come in again ? —Yes, that is so. The Natives of the Mau have been holding Fonos So I hear.

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