CONDITIONS IN SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20336, 17 August 1929, Page 14

CONDITIONS IN SAMOA.

NATIVE UNREST CONTINUES.

PROSPERITY NOT AFFECTED.

MAU MORE SUBDUED."

DIFFICULTY OF TAX COLLECTION. [by telegraph.—special reporter.] WELLINGTON, Fridny. "The native unrest continues and the Mau organisation still contains some twothirds of the native population," states 'the ninth annual report on the mandated territory of Western Samoa, presented to the House of Representatives to-day. The Minister of External Affairs, Sir Joseph 'Ward, at the samo time tabled extracts 'from the roport of the finance and administrative staff of Samoa, which were published in February, and a health report on tho territory. Tho Administrator's report states tho total trade for tho year 1928 was £748,728 (made up of imports £326,553 and exports £422,175), as against a total of £640,347 for 1927 (made up of imports £304,369 and exports £335,978). The climatic conditions for island produco have been favourable. "The native unrest continues and the ' Mau organisation still contains some twothirds of tho native population," states the report. "This is reflected in tho revenue from native taxes, which have produced for the year ended March 31, 1929, £6343 out of an estimated return of £19,400. In spite of the diminution in native tax receipts the activities of the administration on behalf of the Samoan population by way of education and jnedical treatment have been fully maintained. Military Police Reduced. r '* In April, 1928, a force of 74 military police was brought to Samoa and has effectively coped with all serious unrest. It is now proposed to reduce the nufnber to 45 and to place the force on a civil basis. Tho behaviour of the polico has been excellent and they have been particularly careful to avoid any provocative action. "From time to time it has appeared as if tho present trouble was abating but it etill persists, although it is .now more under control. The six original native members of the Citizens' Committee were invited to meet the Administrator on August 1, 1928, to hear the report of the Permanent Mandates Commission relative to Western Samoa, which was adopted at tho commission's thirteenth session. Threo only accepted the invitation, and of these three two have since abandoned the Mau. Efforts to Meet Mau Leaders. " Evory effort has been made by the [Administrator to meet the leaders of the Mau and to discuss their grievances, but •without success. On October 9, 1928, he induced Tamasese and Tuimalealiifano, tho two principal native leaders of the Mau, to meet him, when they assured him tftajt tlio Mau had now two grievances only. The first was that the report of the Mandates Commission was not conveyed to them by a document signed and sealed by the various countries comprising the League of Nations or their representatives, and tho second that Mr. Nelson, whom they considered thoir representative, had not reported to them. The attitude of the Mtfa has changed during the year from one of ostentation and aggression to a more subdued form) but tho same difficulty in' dealing with it persists. To effect arrests ou any charge is rendered •difficult by the offender either running away'to, the bush or being concealed by bis friends, and although tho criminal law has been fairly well enforced there we still a number of offenders at large. ''i Efficiency of Administration. " Thd collection of taxes by civil process has been impossible to deal with in any large numbor, and more prominent individuals only have been singled out for attention. 1 Although the position is, of course, by no means satisfactory it is on tho other hand easy to oxaggerato the difficulties of the present situation. Except for the'collection of native taxes tho administration may be said to be functioning with reasonable efficiency. The country, with negligible exceptions, is quiet and orderly and the trading figures for the year clearly indicate that the Mau movement has had no seriously detrimental effect. upon the material prosperity of tho natives or upon the country as a whole.

"No fono of faipules has been held except to welcome the new Administrator on * his arrival in May, 1928, but on several occasions fonos of officials have been held in both islands to discuss matters of policy in native affairs. It is now proposed to suspend tho faipules for tho time being. Tne faamasinos are also to bfe suspended as they have been performing no duty recently. Except in a, few cases European district officers are now being appointed to perfo-in the duties of tho' district-councils and of the faipules in tho various districts, and it is hoped tna{ this change in the system will lead on the ono hand to a stronger control of the native population, and on the other to a closer touch between the Administrator and the individual native."