ROLE OF THE MAU

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 45, 23 February 1939, Page 15

ROLE OF THE MAU

WESTERN SAMOA

MANY QUESTIONS ASKED

MANDATES REPORT

By Air Mail, from -The Post's" London Representative.) LONDON, January 19. The role of the Mau in Western Samoa and the anti-Mau movements in the political life of the territory were the subject of many questions when Dr. R. M. Campbell, economic adviser to the High Commissioner in London, submitted the New Zealand Government's annual report and made a general statement to the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations, early in November. The minutes of the session were approved by the League Council in Geneva this week, and released for general publication. M. Orts, chairman of the Commission, M. Rappard, vice-chairman, Baron van Asbeck, Mile. Dannevig, M. Giraud, Lord Hailey, M. Palacios, and Count de Penha Garcia were present to hear .r Dr. Campbell's statements. M. Palacios observed that, while everything seemed to indicate that the Mau held a predominant position in the territory, and was regarded with favour by New Zealand, the Commission had received reports and information, mainly from the Press, mentioning an anti-Mau movement called the Malo. He asked whether it was true that the Malo was as strong in numbers and influence as "the organisation dominated by Mr. Nelson and his son-in-law, Tamasese." CALM AND NORMAL. Dr. Campbell replied that, in general, the political situation was calm and normal. It appeared that the new Mau had beein overrpublicised and did not, at present, represent more than 3£ per cent, of the Samoans. The Mau was still the organisation representing the greater majority of the native Samoan population. M. Rappard inquired whether the Mau was in opposition under the ' former Conservative New Zealand administration, but now preferred to collaborate with the Labour Government's representatives. He presumed that the anti-Mau could be described as the more Conservative section. Dr. Campbell hesitated to agree. He did not believe the new Mau was antiadministration. It took the view rather that the old f Mau was not sufficiently pro-administration; and it favoured closer co-operation with the Legislative Council than the Mau itself. "CURIOUS COMPOSITION." M. van Asbeck said that he had been rather struck by the curious composition of the Mau deputation which visited New Zealand. It was led by Mr. Nelson, a non-natisve, and consisted of his daughter, presumably a non-native also, the Hon. Tamasese, Mr. Nelson's son-in-law, and three other persons, some of whom might well have been related to the Nelson family also. Would it be fair to say that the Mau could be identified with the Nelson family, and the anti-Mau with the family of Malietoa? In that case, Western Samoa would present the same phenomenon as other colonial territories, where political issues were decided, not so much on, grounds of principle as of personal interests. Dr. Campbell observed that his task in representing the mandatory Power did not extend to justifying the personnel of the deputation sent to consult with his Government. M. Rappard said it appeared that the deputation had received satisfaction, in that repressive legislation had been repealed. The situation was rather curious. Under the previous Administration Mr. Nelson, the leader of the Mau deputation, had been regarded as a bitter enemy and banished. Since the Labour Government came into power^ he had been released, and had visited New Zealand apparently in order to secure the repeal of the very legislation under wUich he himself had suffered. /A PERTINENT QUESTION. The question naturally arose why, if he behaved himself, Mr. Nelson should have been apprehensive of the old legislation? If, on the other hand, he intended to repeat his misbehaviour, the repeal of the legislation in question paved the way for, such designs. It was rather strange to see a Government repealing legislation at the request of a former victim of that very legislation. Dr. Campbell replied that the Labour Party had strongly criticised the legislation when it was first enacted. No apprehension' need be entertained that the repeal deprived the authorities of all powers to deal with offenders. There was ample authority to deal with offences committed by natives, part natives, or Europeans. M. van Asbeck, referring to the activities of the Mau Guardsmen, inferred that they might possibly constitute a semi-military organisation, and that pressure might be used on Samoans in the interests of the party or its leaders. He referred to a protest by the antiMau against the existence of the Guardsmen. Dr. Campbell saicl that in a nonofficial source (the "Christchurch Press" of May 12, 1938) he read that the Mau police, wearing their characteristic uniforms and "sometimes carrying batons," were "a familiar sight." He had heard of no complaints about Samoans having been compelled to join the force. / APPj«RENT INCONSISTENCY. M. Rappard asked for an explanation of the "apparent inconsistency" of the report stating that +he Legislative Council comprised "four nominated members" whereas in another paragraph it might be inferred that the four native seats were elective. Dr. Campbell explained that the native representatives on the Council were nominated after appropriate consultation with native interests. Technically, the representation could not be called "elective," but in practice it was customary, to appoint individuals selected by the Samoans themselves. He believed that the Mau communicated their wishes for the actual representatives to the Administration. M. Giraud inferred that only one trend of native opinion was represented in the Council. The Mau, no doubt, represented the large majority of the native population, but other shades of opinion existed. Did not the mandatory Power consider that there might be some disadvantages in their not being represented on the Council? Dr. Campbell answered that, according to the Government's information, the Mau represented the great bulk of the population. Mile. Dannevig said she had always understood that the Samoans took a great pride in their social status and were fond of exercising authority. If that were so the anti-Mau's failure to secure representation on the Council might be one explanation of the political difficulties experienced. Dr. Campbell believed that his Government would welcome any system of representation that gave the fullest possible expression to the desires of the population. It would, however, be difficult at present to define the exact form that representation should take.