MAU REGIME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 235, 3 September 1937, Page 8

MAU REGIME.

FEELING OF DISAPPOINTMENT. J VISITOR’S IMPRESSION. WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. “The Samoan native political organisation, the Mau, is disappointed at the failure of the Government to carry out certain undertakings made by the goodwill mission which travelled to Samoa last year,” according to Mr Wilfred Barton, J.P., who has returned to Wellington after a trip to the Islands in the Maui Pomare. “To the Samoan a promise is a promise, even if it is a political one,” said Mr Barton. During his visit to Samoa there was no outward sign of dissatisfaction, but the fact that a deputation headed by Mr O. F. Nelson, the former champion of the Mau, was to visit New Zealand showed that the Samoan people were anxious to see the promises fulfilled. Mr Barton was impressed with the high, standard of life among the natives, particularly their cleanliness and their eagerness to become educated. In the schools, staffed by native teachers, he found the children speaking perfect English. Religion, too, appeared to play a prominent part in the life of the people. Mr Barton said he had enjoyed a long conversation with the acting-Ad-ministrator, Mr A. C. Turnbull, who had expressed the view that reports of native disturbances were usually exaggerated by the time they ' reached NeW Zealand. The recent disturbance in which the wife of an inspector of police figured was an example. The occasion was that of an exclusively native festival and Europeans had been requested to leave certain roads free. Those who were concerned in the incidents probably had themselves to blame for lack of understanding. POPULAR ADMINISTRATOR.

Asked whether the report was current in Samoa that Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., was expected to succeed Mr Turnbull, Mr Barton said it was true that a section of the people favoured Mr O’Brien. “The present Administrator, however, is very popular, both with the Europeans and with the natives,” he declared. “He is the essence of tact and, indeed, it would be very difficult to find a better man, The members of the goodwill mission had made an impression because they made plenty of promises. By all accounts they were given a wonderful reception.” The Mau functions as a separate political organisation, with King Tamasese, the 24-year-old son of the former King, at its head, said Mr Barton. The Samoans were keen to secure staff positions under the Administrator and expected to receive salaries on the European scale. It was fairly common knowledge that Mr Nelson desired administrative posts for himself and his daughter. He would head the deputation to the New Zealand Government as a Samoan citizen who took a keen interest in the welfare of the natives.

A visit by the Maui Pomare to Sunday Island, in the Kermadecs, in order to land an additional member of the Government survey party, was recalled by Mr Barton. Although the ship put in at a bay not previously visited, it was found impossible to make a landing because of the heavy surf. The only method was to put in to the rocks in a ship’s boat; but with the surf that was running even this was too dangerous, and the member of the party had perforce to return to New Zealand.