MAU LEADERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 54, 5 March 1930, Page 7

MAU LEADERS.

ATTEND CONFERgNCEy Meeting With Administrator and Minister. POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION. (By Radio—Special to Press Association.) APIA, March 4. .At 10 o'clock yesterday' morning the Administrator of Western Samoa, Mr. S. S. Allen, and the, Hon. J. G. Cobbe, New Zealand Minister of Defence, who is now in the territory, met the leading chiefs, Tuimalealiifano 'and Faumuina, and others at a big gathering of the Mau at Vaimoso. The conference lasted one and a half hours. The Administrator,. Mr. Cobbe, and Faumuina were the only speakers. The meeting was quiet, orderly' and respectful; Mr. Allen and the Minister stressed the fact that law and order were essential in Samoa. They expressed a-hope of a settlement of the trouble and said the Government desired that peace and pros? perity should prevail in Samoa. Mr. Allen gave the Mail three points, for consideration:— ■ ' (1) That the Mau shall end. '";'•' (2) That the wanted men. must be surrendered. (3) That the Administrator would meet when required the leading representative chiefs for the people of Samoa to discuss all matters for the benefit of the people. . - Faumuina was spokesman for the Mau. He said all the chiefs in Samoa were .not then present at Vaimoso. Time therefore was required to fully consider the three points, but when the decision of the Mau was arrived at he would inform the Administrator. Mr. Allen stated he would return to Vaimoso at 10 o'clock to-day (Tuesday) in the hopes of hearing the decision. Mr. Cobbe struck a hopeful note-, suggesting a blending of British laws and the best features of Samoan customs with a view to embodying them in the laws of the territory.

SOLICITOR GAOLED. Three Months and Heavy Fine for Defamatory Libel. LETTER TO ADMINISTRATOR. APIA, March 4. Before the Chief Judge, Mr. J. H._Lutford, yesterday morning Thomas Slipper, barrister and solicitor, of Apia, was convicted on two charges:— . Firstly, publishing a defamatory libel against the Administrator. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined £105. A - . . '. - Secondly,, using abusive and insulting words toward and in respect of. a member of the Legislative Council. f On this charge he was,! sentenced to,..three months' : imprisonment, the sentences ,fa be'concurrent. ' '£/'' The charge arose from a letter sent by Slipper on the instruction of several Samoam women clients relative .to > meeting at Mulinuu a fortnight ago between the Administrator, Mr. S. S. Allen,Commodore Blake, and Samoan -women, who complained of harsh treatment to women and children and destruction'of property in houses and villages by.naval search parties. . . ■'.. The women were dissatisfied with the meeting and instructed Slipper to' write a letter of complaint to the Administra? tor and to send three copies, one eadh to the Prime Minister, the Chief Judge and Commodore Blake, which constituted publication and. was admitted by Slipper. This letter contained the words complained of. V The judge, in imposing sentence, stressed the seriousness of the letter in view of the present political unrest. He would not accept Slipper's defence of privilege, Mr. Andrews prosecuted and Slipper conducted his own defence. ''■'■' ■' ' ;'"•*'