MAU DISPERSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 65, 18 March 1930, Page 8

MAU DISPERSE.

[ MINISTER'S REPORT.

DIGNIFIED CONFERENCES.

MR. COBBE «ON THE MAT."

POSITION OF SPECIAL POLICE.

"Matters have improved; the Mau came in and met the Administrator and myself; the wanted men have surrendered themselves voluntarily to the police; and the members of the Mau have dispersed to their various villages. The position is satisfactory and the future hopeful." This brief statement was made by the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Defence, who returned from Apia by the Tofua this morning. He declined to make any detailed statement, as he explained that he had to personally report to the Prime Minister first, and with this object in view he left by the Rotorua express. Speaking of trade conditions Mr. Cobbe said the disturbances had naturally affected business considerably. The natives had not been producing copra in any quantity, but now that they were going back to their villages he was of opinion that they would set to work in earnest once again. In regard to the meetings he had attended the Minister indicated that they were of a dignified character. There •were no "fireworks," the only thing that ■was hot being the temperature. He haft attended many meetings in the island, and had to squat on a mat on each occasion. "I could not tuck my legs underneath me in native fashion," he said •with a smile, " and I had to be content to sit on the floor with my legs stretched out, with as much dignity as I could duster under the circumstances." Questioned in reference to the special police force that had been in training at Trentham, Mr. Cobbe said he did not know exactly the position at the moment, and he could, make no pronouncement in regard to the future of the men. "The Dunedin is returning, and will be in Auckland to-morrow," he said, "and she is bringing back the special men sent to Samoa, so you can take your own inferences from that." The "Auckland Star's" correspondent at Suva, in a dispatch which reached Auckland this morning, states that Mr. Cobbe had said when passing through that he did not think the newly-formed military police would be sent from New Zealand, and he did not expect there would be further disturbances. By the Tofua, which arrived from the Islands this morning, there were a number of passengers who boarded the vessel at Apia. The general opinion expressed by them was that the trouble in "the mandated territory was waning, and all spoke in high terms of the tact and dignity that had been exercised by New Zealand's Minister of Defence during his brief stay. Trouble has been experienced between the Administration and the Mau for the past three years, and much credit is being given to Mr. Cobbe .for. the present peaceful position. According to people who have been in the territory and taken an interest in the situation the representative of the Government arrived at an opportune time. Everybody seemed to have been getting "fed up" with the position. The rainy season was coming on, the special force taken up by H.M.s. Dunedin and th« bluejackets were tired of the incessant and unavailing search through the bush, and there was a general feeling of relief when a truce was called and agreed upon by both sides as a preliminary to meetings between the Administrator, the Minister of Defence, Commodore Blake end the chiefs and leaders of the people.

The truce ended on Friday, March 7, when the final conference was held. Although Faumuina had said the Mau would not disperse there were signs of a change of attitude, and before the Tofua sailed there was ample evidence that the dispersal was in progress. Natives commenced to book passages to Savaii, the adjoining island, and there was a request made to the Administrator for the return of the boats that had been seized by H.M.s. Dunedin. The Adminis{rator promised that they would be retij-ncd, but laughingly informed the natives that they had better hurry up and claim them, or the warship might take them away. In his final speech Mr. Allen informed the Mau chiefs of the incapacity of the Samoan people to govern their own country. He asked them to point out the Samoan who was running a large business, and asked if any were fit to take charge of education, the hospital, and the treasury or the harbours. In his opinion none had the necessary qualifications. -