CONCESSIONS TO MAU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19889, 7 March 1928, Page 11

CONCESSIONS TO MAU.

REJECTION BY PRISONEBS.

A SEDITIOUS PROPOSAL.

SAMOA FOR THE SAMOANS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received March 6, 9.12 p.m.) A. and N.Z. APIA, March 5. The proffer of clemency to the Mau prisoners made by the Administrator, Sir George Richardson, was. to-day rejected. Tamasese, as spokesman for 200 (about half) of prisoners, intimated that the concessions offered would not suffice. They wanted Samoa to be run by the Samoans entirely, without white officials but under the British flag. The Administrator replied that the proposal was seditious and could not be entertained. Unless the proffered terms were accepted the imprisonment of the Mau men would continue.

A message trom Apia published on Monday stated :—The Administrator of Western Samoa, Sir George Richardson, spoke to the Mau prisoners yesterday afternoon and received a good hearing. Subsequently Tamasese, as spokesman, said the Mau men felt that their grievances had been mot, but they required time for further consideration of Sir George's speech to them, and would answer him definitely in a day or two. The impression in well-informed circles is that the Administrator's direct talk to the Mau men cleared away many misunderstandings they had fostered and that the outlook is now brighter than it has been at any other time in the last 12 months.