O. F. NELSON TRIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 10, 12 January 1934, Page 12

O. F. NELSON TRIAL.

MAU ACTIVITIES. POWER ON THE DECLINE? POLICE OFFICER'S EVIDENCE. (By Hadio. —Press Association.) APIA, January 10. The hearing of the case against Olaf Frederick Nelson, who is charged with breaches of the Sanioan Seditious Organisations Regulations, was resumed in the High Court to-day. The cross-examination of Police-In-spector Braisby by defendant chiefly concerned the Mau's attempts to settle differences in 1931 without waiting for Nelson's return and when the Upolu party disagreed. Defendant questioned the statement that the Mau was on the wane. Defendant examined the witness at great length as to. the number of European police in Samoa in 1930 and 1933, and wished to know if the Mau activity increased according to the force used by. the police or npt. Witness explained that the numbers and activity of the police were relative to conditions in the territory. The Mau had always existed in a passive sense since 1930 and participated in unlawful activity without open obstruction, resistance, rejection of Court processes or disorderly conduct. Secret activities of a passive nature were difficult, to detect and deal with. Witness stated that from the police point of view the Mau began to decline in 1930, when there was an adequate force to enforce the law. Before the Court adjourned the Chief Judge, Mr. J. H. Luxford, asked defendant how much longer the crossexamination would take, as the inspector had been in the witness box many days.