CONCESSIONS TO MAU

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 July 1936, Page 11

CONCESSIONS TO MAU

CONFERENCE WITH MISSION. [BY CABLE— TRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (From the Special Representative of the United Press Association with the Ministerial Delegation. (Recd. July 1, 10.30 a.m.). APIA, June 29. A conference lasting nearly three hours was held at Vaimoso, this afternoon, between representatives of the Mau and the goodwill delegates. The proceedings were friendly and of the most cordial nature. The assurance was given by the Minister that the members of the Mau would be given full' rights of qltizdnship, and the same privileges enjoyed by British subjects in New Zealand. The Labour* Party, he said, accepted no responsibility for the happenings in the past. The Samoans would be taken into the confidence of the Government. In reply to a request for the removal of the Acting Administrator and other officials from the previous Government, Mr. Langstone pointed out that the new Government did not remove its officials from public service in the Dominion. The Government fixed a policy and the officials carried it out. Any official not doing so would be removed.

Tamasese remarked that the former Government had told the Mau leaders they did not know what they wanted.

Mr. 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 the conditions generally, and was considering the increase of sixpence a case in the price of bananas paid tp-grow-ers 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 representatives of Samoans be increased from two to four, and that if instances arose, where a large minority objected to the passing of ordinances, then the subject matter be referred to the Governmen.t These were accepted. The Mau agreed to combine with the Malo and attend a business fono at Mulinuu, tomorrow.