SAMOAN COMMISSION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 8, 4 October 1927, Page 9

SAMOAN COMMISSION

EVIDENCE OF NATIVES OBJECTS AND HOPES OF • THE MAU (Special to Press Association, by Radio.) Apia, October 1. Alipiata, a high Samoan orator, also a Samoan member of the Citizens’ League, gave evidence before the Royal . Commission on the lines of that of Tamasese, the high chief, that the Mau’s object was the government of Samoa bv Samoans under the protection of the British dag, and that Samoa should make its own ' laws. ’Hie Mau ' never tried to have General Richardson removed from office. Tuu, a chief of Safune, Savaii, protested against bis banishment, the-pre-sentation of fine mats, and the inhibition of the medical tax, and agreed with Tamasese and Alipiata as to the objects and hopes of the Mau and the absence of any desire for the removal of General Richardson L’maga Pau also expressed the desire for self-government and the objects. of the Mau, and was supported by Faarnau Sili, who was formerly secretary to Malietoa. l-’aamau Sili deposed that he and a friend were banished because in conversation with a friend they said • that one faipule had no credit in the district, having the big leg (elephantiasis), and the second faipule could neither read nor write. Cross-examined, he unreservedly admitted that he and his friend had sug vested setting up a kingship under Malietoa, and it was for this that . they -were banished on a charge of sedition.