SAMOAN POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 91, 18 April 1929, Page 16

SAMOAN POLITICS.

MAU'S INFLUENCE WANING.

STRONOKOZiD AT VAIMOSO.

PASSING MOTOR CARS SEARCHED.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) APIA, March 31

Mau activities in Samoa seem at present to be causing the natives more concern than anyone else. There is a general feeling that the importance and power of the Mau is waning, and that many of the Samoans would like to see matters more settled. Apparently it is the influence of a few important chiefs who cannot so readily forgive and forget that is preventing these more pacific natives from holding out the olive branch to the Administration. However, it is almost impossible for the European to get behind the real native mind these days, and consequently it is only conjecture that there i 3 any definite hope of settlement in the near future. In the meantime, the Mau as a whole are keeping very quiet, and, save in the village of Vainioso, a mile or two from Apia, where the Mau have permanent headquarters, there is no indication that there is such a body as the Mau. Vainioso still retains it's individuality, and the passer-by on the main coastal road through this village receives a vivid reminder that things are not as they should be, especially if he is travelling at night. -Many of the members of the Mau are still evading the police, and in consequence of numerous and unexpected police raids on the various villages, these lawbreakers and non-taxpayers have found it expedient to seek refuge in Vainioso. where they are fairly safe. This \illage is almost impossible to raid owing to it- strategic position, and to make condition- -afcr the Man have in - Mailed picket - all along | In- road in tin; vicinity, which sound an alarm if danger threatens. These pickets are not very popular among Europeans at present, for on several occasions motorists have been stopped and questioned by Mau natives, who are on the lookout for military policemen concealed in the cars. Occasionally there"" have been some brisk moments between dignified but persistent Mau chiefs and infuriated Europeans, who naturally object to being subjected to an inquisition from the natives. The Samoan taxi-drivers treat V.iirnoso \ e|-y rc-neci fully, and when driving ;.| p,-,,. v ,..l -lowly enough lor 1 !k' >'»;•!- to a.-eerwiin who U in the car. Piles of stones beside the and huge logs held readv to bark *■*> ro»<l give a fairly good' iudieat he,

of what would happen should the demands of the pickets not be complied with. At night the pickets sleep all along the road, and allow only a very narrow pathway for cars. Some of the motorists have got a little of their own back by opening their exhausts and tearing between the rows of sleeping Samoans with as much noise as possible. Needless to say, the natives give a prompt "gangway," but the practice is dangerous, for the aroused natives at the other end of the road are apt to take revenge by blocking the road with a log.

Notwithstanding these minor humiliations that Europeans occasionally receive from the Mau, it is obvious in most cases that there is no intention to be impolite. The Mau apparently consider themselves in a position where they find it necessary to take certain precautions, and those motorists who fall in with the humour of the Samoans are treated with dignity and courtesy. In a few cases there have been exceptions, but it is understood that the Mau Committee deal hardly with natives who deliberately insult Europeans, and will not tolerate disrespect to the white man. Their code of ethics in this respect is rather ambiguous, and decidedly Gilbertian, but still it is faa-Sanioa, as is said about many anomalies occurring in Sanioan life and consequently excusable to that extent. Still it is a bad state of affairs where the "papala;ri" can be ordered to stop or go by the native, and not at all conducive to regaining that prestige which at one time existed.

Possibly when some of the '"young and vigorous New Zcalandcrs of strpng personality,' 7 as recommended by the coinmission, arrive in Samoa, prestige will go np <>f its own accord.