OPERATIONS OF MAU.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 313, 2 December 1933, Page 7

OPERATIONS OF MAU.

A SEDITIOUS BODY. CASE IN SAMOA. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. Fuller particular's of the trial of eight Samoan chiefs on the. charge of being members of the seditious organisation known as the Mau have been received from the correspondent of the Press Association at Apia. The trial was held on Monday, November 20. The prosecution was conducted by Mr A. McCarthy, defendants not being represented by counsel. It was shown that defendants left Apia on November 16 on a malaga or journey round the island. They intended to make an inspection of the villages, roads and plantations. The police received information of the proposed malaga and a party of police went to Loutuanuu, which has been gazetted as a disturbed area, and brought defendants to Apia. Evidence was given that the malaga was being conducted according to instructions contained in a document which had been found in Mr O. F. Nelson’s residence. Sub-Inspector Fell said he found defendants in a fale, or meeting-house, with other chiefs and between 300 and 400 natives present. They made no trouble and agreed to return to Apia. His Honour Judge Luxford said it had been proved that it was seditious organisation and there was direct evidence that defendants were identified with the movement.

Defendants elected to give evidence and in all cases pleaded that they were ignorant of the law relating to the Mau being a seditious organisation. They admitted being members of the Mau committee and that the malaga was taken under instructions from the Mau. One of the chiefs, Autagavaia, said the Mau was believed to be in Samoa for the Samoans, and that the country should be governed by Samoans and that the white Government should cease. They would be satisfied with full control of the country. Another denied that the Mau was seditious, it having been formed for the good of the people. The Mau would be content when the Government had given into all their demands. In his judgment, Judge Luxford said the charge of being members of a seditious organisation had been proved beyond all doubt. It was his duty to point out to those who broke the law the folly of their actions. While the law was in force it must be obeyed. The evidence had disclosed" that the Mau was seditious and a bad organisation and the Government would be failing in its duty if it did not do everything in its power to suppress it. There could only be one Government in the country and if the organisation set itself up to oppose and upset the Government it was a seditious organisation.

His Honour referred briefly to the past history of the islands and said a country like Samoa did not learn to govern itself except after years of hard and patient study by its people. The offences proved to be very serious and His Honour imposed the following sentences: Autagavaia, 12 months; Une, six months; Molio, six months; Leutle, six months; Solea, six months; Leleua, six months; Su, six months; Faalavaau, nine months. Autagavaia was the leader of the malaga and Faalavaau the secretary of the Mau.