A.—4b.

they pay. Also because the custom in Samoa is different from the European custom : in Samoa wiien a Samoan is sick his relatives will assemble and subscribe the money to help to pay for his medical attention. Judge MacCormick: Does the suggest the substitution of voluntary subscriptions ? Mr. Baxter: I understand that the family would rather look after their own people than pay the tax. There is talk of dividing up the lands by the Government among the people : what have you to say about that ?—ln my opinion, that system does not agree with the Samoan custom. I am speaking of the Government dividing up the land with the consent of the owners of the land. Who is the Faipule of your district ?—Seiuli. Do you wish to say anything about him or not ? — Yes, I wish to say that I am not satisfied with him because he was nominated by the Administrator to be a Faipule, and that was not the wish of the district. Although so nominated, he might be a very good Faipule ? —Yes ; but I complain against him because any request or point raised by the district which they (the district) wish to bring before the Administrator is not done. Give me an incident, please ? —One matter is about the medical tax. They brought this to the Faipule's notice and it was not brought forward ? —No. We brought that before him and we received no reply. Judge MacCormick.] Brought what forward ? —The question of the medical tax, sir. Mr. Baxter.] Why did you not see the Secretary for Native Affairs ? —Because if Igo there they refer me back to the Faipule. Has that ever happened to you before ? —Many times. Please give me some incident ?—I went to the Secretary for Native Affairs (Mr. Griffin) to get some more light about the titles question, but he referred me back to the Faipule. The Chairman.] What year was that in? —In the year 1923. Who was the Administrator then ?—lt was shortly after the arrival of the present Administator. Mr. Baxter.] Is there any other incident ?—I think that that is sufficient. The Chairman.] Is that the only incident ?—That is the incident. Mr. Baxter.'] You remember the first meeting that was held at the Market Hall here ? —Yes. Did you go to that meeting or not ?—No, I was not at the first meeting. Do you belong to the Mau or to the Malo ? —I am a member of the Mau. How did the present trouble come about ? The Chairman: Is that a necessary question, Mr. Baxter ? Mr. Baxter: Ido not know what his evidence will be. The Chairman: Let us understand that there must be some relation to the value of the evidence and the length of this inquiry. Mr. Baxter: I will keep it down as much as I possibly can, sir. (To witness :) There is trouble here at the present time : is it as bad now as it was, or is it better ? —lt is getting worse. What has made all this trouble ? —Because the Samoans wish to bring forward their grievances in accordance with the proper channels. What do you mean by " the proper channels " I—To announce or to tell any grievances. Judge MacCormick.'] Yes, but through what channels do you wish to bring them forward 1 — To the proper authority—that is, the Administrator. To the Administrator ?—Yes, but it was refused. Mr. Meredith.] Did you ever have an interview yourself with the Administrator about being given time to fix your family affairs before going to Faga.malo ? —There was an interview with Mr. Ross, but not with the Administrator. And were you not given ten days' additional time by the Administrator ?—Yes, I was ; but the family, I told him, was my wife and children, and not the big family. Did you tell Mr. Ross to tell the Administrator that you had acted wrongly, and that you would be loyal and grateful to the Administrator in the future ? —No, I did not. Does not the Administrator hear all complaints from the Natives on his malagas through the island I—Yes. Has your village made any complaint, on the Administrator's malaga, about this Faipule ? —No. Do you wish the Fono of Faipules to be abolished ? —I wish the Fono of Faipules to be elected by the people. How should they be elected by the people ? —From a Fono of the district, who will discuss upon whom they will agree to become a Faipule. If the Faipule is chosen by the District Council, you are satisfied I—Yes. When was the Faipule Seiuli appointed ?—I could not say now. Was he not appointed long before the present Administrator came to Samoa ?—Yes, but not long before the Administrator came to Samoa. Do you know that the question of the malagas for the presentation of "fine mats " was discussed by the Fono of Faipules ?—I do not know for certain, but I think that it was discussed by the Administrator at the Fono of Faipules at Mulinu'u, because we found later on that the law came into force. If the Faipules thought that these malagas should be stopped, would you then be satisfied ?—I would not, because such would not be the custom. Do you know better than the Faipules ?—Yes, I know better than most of them. Do you remember how bad yaws were some years ago ? —I do remember.

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