A.—4b.
Faamausili-Fala sworn and examined. Mr. Slipper.] Have you been banished ? —Yes. Where were you living at the time you were banished ? —Malie. Where were you banished to ?—Lefaga. Before you were banished you used to live in Malie ?—I was secretary to Malietoa, the Fautua, and resided up the Faipule Koad. Have you got your banishment papers ? —I have them. [Put in : Exhibit No. 21.] About what time was it that you were banished ? —llth September, 1924-. What is your title ?—Faamausili. What sort of a title is that ? —A high chief's title. Have you any idea what you were banished for ? —Yes. What was it for ? —Because another chief and I ran down the Faipule. Whom did you run them down to ? —Just between the two of us. We were friends. Did he " split "on you ? —I think the Faipule Fonoti was suspicious about Inu, and he wrote to me asking what Inu had come to see me about, and I told Fonoti what we had spoken about. Had you done anything very bad ?—I had not said anything very bad. Can you give us any idea of what you said ? —lnu started off by saying that it was no good having Tainau as Faipule for our district any more ; he has got a big leg and is ugly. We ran down Toelupe, saying he is an ignorant man who could not read or write, and it was no good for him to be Faipule. Is it true that Toelupe cannot read or write ? —He can read a little but he cannot write very well. How could he write up Government matters if he cannot write properly ? Did nobody speak to you about these grave things you had done ? —Fonoti reported this matter and I was brought before the Faipules at Mulinu'u. The Faipules were Toelupe, Aiono, Asi, and Fonoti. We told them that we just talked between the two of us and that we did not mean any great harm. Did you tell them the facts as you have told us now ? —Yes. Amongst these four Faipules who sat in judgment on you, was Ta'inau one of the adjudicators ?—No. Was there any of those four Faipules the chief Faipule at that sitting, the chairman ? —Aiono and Toelupe were the chairmen. Did Toelupe have anything to say about it ? —Toelupe questioned me about our words. Did he make any remarks about it afterwards ? —He said we were bad men and did not behave ourselves. Was there anything said there about your having done anything else besides what you have told us ? —That was all we were punished for. Were you told then what was going to happen to you ? —About three weeks after this inquiry we received banishment orders. Was there any further inquiry of any sort ? —No further inquiry. Was there any disorder caused by what you said, you and the other fellow ?—No. Was there any sign of it about ? —No, the words were spoken just between the two of us and were not likely to cause trouble. Was there anything there to do any harm to the Government of the country 1. —The only words that could have done anything were the words we said that those Faipules ought to be removed from the Fono as they were of no use. Do you want to have good Faipules in the Fono ? —Yes. Did you say anything against the other Faipules ? —No. You gave your reason for what you said?— Yes. And you owned up to it straight away when you came before the Faipule ? —Yes. Did you ask that Toelupe should not sit in judgment on you ? —No. Mr. Meredith.] You were secretary to Malietoa, were you not ? —Yes. And the charge against you was sedition I—We1 —We did not commit sedition. You were brought up with Inu-Tulifau ?—Yes. And the inquiry was before five Faipule ? —Four Faipule, and Laupu'e as Clerk. Aiono, Toelupe, Asi, Ama I—Ama1 —Ama was also there. Was the evidence that you had suggested a kingship under Malietoa ? —Yes, that was mentioned between us and brought out in evidence. Did you understand that these proceedings before the five Faipule were to be followed by an appeal to the Administrator to exercise his powers to remove you from one village to another ? —No, I did not think so. You were pardoned in June, 1926 ?—Yes. Do you know that it was Toelupe who put in the petition for your pardon ? —No. Mr. Slipper.] You have been asked what was said at Mulinu'u. You told us that you were charged with sedition, and that you wished that a kingdom should be set up with Malietoa as king ? —Yes. Did you say those things to Inu in your first talk ? The Chairman : He said it was mentioned between them. Mr. Slipper: I was not clear on that point, about what was said at Mulinu'u. The Chairman : He has already said that. It was said perfectly distinctly. Mr. Slipper.] Had you ever discussed that with him before I—No,1 —No, only on the one day. Had you ever discussed it with any one else before ? —No. Who is Inu—is he a man of any importance ?—He is an important orator of Lufi Lufi. Did you make any complaint, or start to make any complaint ? —No, it was just mentioned casually between us.
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