SAMOAN UNREST.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19133, 17 October 1927, Page 11

SAMOAN UNREST.

A FAIPULE'S EVIDENCE. FONO SYSTEM PRAISED. (r-KESS ASSOCIATION.—BV WIRELESS.) (Received October lGth, 0.0 p.m.) APIA, October 10. Toclnpc, a Faipulo under seven Governments of Samoa, including New Zealand, testified that there was no unrest in Samoa until October last, when it was caused by the Man. Banishments were customary in old Samoa for comparatively trivial, also serious, offences. Ho considered that no Samoan was clever enough to be in a white men's Legislative Council. Samoa n wisdom was not t.he white man's wisdom, which was the reason that all Samoans' efforts to organise and manage trading companies invariably failed. The present Fono system was the only practicable way for the present generation of Samoa. "A WHITE MAN'S BODY." (press association - .—bt WIRELESS.) APIA, October 14. Representative witnesses on behalf of the Administration officials testified that a member of the Mali would not carry out the orders of officials. .Mataafa, a Faipulo, deposed that he did not favour Samoans having representation in the Legislative Council, which was n white man's body. The Samoans' body was the Fono of Faip tiles. Mr Lewis. Secretary for Native Affairs, said the system pi Faipule government was in vogue in Samoa before the German occupation in 1900. Under Germany, appointments were made solely by tho Governor. Banishment was a very old Samoan custom, and under the kingship of Malietoa, the law of 1892 vested the power of banishment absolutely in the King.