SAMOAN UNREST

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 11, 7 October 1927, Page 11

SAMOAN UNREST

INFLUENCE OF THE MAU EVIDENCE OF MEMBERS ADMINISTRATOR UNDERTOOK TO LISTEN TO NATIVES (Special to Press Assn.—By Radio.) Apia, October 4. The sittings of the Samoan Commission were continued to-day, Sir Charles Skerrett presiding. Leilua, living in banishment, attributed his situation to another, Leilua Sivii, a Faipule and -a chief, against whom witness had taken Court action because of abusive language. Cross-examined, witness admitted that nine of his relatives had petitioned for his banishment and for his title to be taken away. Vevesi, formerly a Pulenuu, deposed that he had been deprived of his title for no reason of which he knew. He had approached the Native Department with grievances against certain Faipules and had been told to go back and reconcile them, but he had refused. He was a member of the Mau. He was unaware that the government of Samoa by the Samoans was the object of the Mau, but if the Mandates Committee gave Samoa the same privileges as Tonga had, that would be all right. To the President: He came to Apia yesterday from his home. Nobody had told him about the Mandates Commisson. It was his own knowledge. The President: Very well. Tagaloa Taloaina said that he had been imprisoned for refusal to obey the Administrator’s order to return home. lie deposed that he knew of no acts of his or of the Mau to justify the order. They had been crying for peace, order, and good government of the territory all the time. He admitted that the Administrator undertook to meet them and listen to them in the town and villages, but that was not what they wanted, so he had stayed on in Apia. The government of Samoa by the Samoans was the general object of the Mau. PEOPLE TOLD NOT TO PAY TAXES Apia, October 5. Tamascu Taifau, a member of the Mau, said that the Samoans wanted self-government. The Mau had told the people of the villages not to pay the taxes and not to hand the beetles collected to the Government officials, but to Mau representatives. Lavea Tausitino gave evidence that lie was sent to prison for contempt of Court. He had informed the Commissioner of the High Court that he would not allow his sons to appear to answer a summons, as all members of the Mau were told by the Mau not to accept ■summonses from the High Court. As regarded the Citizens’ Committee, the Samoans were six and the Europeans six, with the chiefs of Samoa as head of the Mau. The whole of the Mau, in a meeting at Lepea, decided upon the matters, as described in evidence by him.

Privilege In Danger of Being Abused The Commission at 4 pm. on Wednesday rose an hour before time, a native witness not being forthcoming. Mr, Meredith, Crown counsel, said that permission was given certain banished chiefs to remain in Apia on purpose to give evidence. The privilege seemed in danger of being abused. He referred to Faumuina and Lagolago, recognised leaders of the Mau movement. Instead of giving evidence and leaving Apia, they were showing a tendency to stimulate the Mau movement. Sir Charles Skerrett:.! must insist. on the assurance already given being strictly observed. Mr. Slipper, for the Citizens’ Committee, undertook to call them next day. All his witnesses seemed to be attending a native reception in Nelson’s Lepea village, forgetting their duty to the Commission. After discussion, it was agreed that opposed counsel should confer to classify evidence and record, the same in order to avoid tedious repetition. NATIVE WITNESS ADMITS CONVICTIONS (Rec. October 6, 8.35 p.m.) Apia, October 5. At the Commission, Logolago, formerly of Afamasaga, gave evidence that he was twice banished, the first time from Pesega. village, two miles from Apia, to his home village, a few miles further from Apia. He had lived at Pesega six vears, and had there a modern house. He and his wife lived in European style. Owing to the loss and inconvenience caused he went bankrupt, and was kept to assist the assignee in the store, and the banishment period expired without his having actually to live in banishment. The second banishment was in July last from Pesega to the small island of Apolima The Administrator alleged that witness and Faamuina were leaders of the Mau, and had failed to use their full influence to disperse a large gathering from Apia. Cross-examined, witness admitted that he had - been convicted for illicit brewing, theft of church moneys, and connection with two native companies which were short bj £3500, possibly lost in trading. He was unaware that his family’s request for the restoration of his title to him had been withdrawn until the last-named affair should be cleaned up. He favoured a Legislative Council for Samoa, including three elected Samoans. The Administration’s proposed land law would turn Samoans into the European way of thinking and caring for nobody but themselves. The Mau had been formed to ventilate the grievances of Samoa. The grievance against New Zealand began in 1918. in consequence of the influenza epidemic.