FRIENDLY CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 22379, 1 July 1936, Page 8

FRIENDLY CONFERENCE

MAU AND GOODWILL DELEGATES SAMOAN PROBLEMS DISCUSSED (From the Special Representative of the United Press Association with the Ministerial Delegation.) APIA, June 29. (Received July 1, at 10 a.m.) A conference lasting for nearly three hours was held at Vaimoso this afternoon between representatives of the Mau and the goodwill delegates. The proceedings werfe friendly and of a most cordial nature. An assurance was given by the Minister that members of the Mau would be given full rights of citizenship and the same privileges enjoyed by British subjects in New Zealand. The Labour Party, he said, accepted no responsibility for happenings in the past. The Samoans would b© taken into the confidence of the Government.

In reply to a request for removal of the Acting Administrator and other officials appointed by the previous Government, the Hon. F. Langstone pointed out that the new Government did not remove its officials from the Public Service in the Dominion. The Government fixed the policy and the officials carried it out. Any official not doing so would be removed. Tamassee remarked that the former Government had told the Mau leaders that they did not know what they wanted. The Hon. F. Langstone said the attitude of the present Government was that nobody knew better what Samoa wanted than the Samoan himself. If there were any harsh laws which would not be tolerated in a country like New Zealand they would be got rid of immediately. The delegation was anxious to find means of improving conditions generally, and was considering an increase of 6d per case in the price of bananas paid to growers during the existence of the present contract. The subject of taxation was discussed and deferred for further consideration by the Mau. The Mau requested better representation in the Legislative Council, and the delegation put forward proposals that the representatives of Samoans be increased from two to four, and that if an instance arose where a large minority objected to the passing of ordnances, then the subject matter be referred to the Government. These were accepted, and the Mau agreed to combine with the Malo and to attend a business fono at Mulinuu to-morrow.