SENT TO GAOL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 934, 2 December 1933, Page 11

SENT TO GAOL.

Trial of Eight Samoan Chiefs. SEDITIOUS ORGANISATION. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 2. Fuller particulars of the trial of eight Samoan chiefs on a charge of being members of a 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. M’Carthy, the defendants not being represented by counsel. It was shown that the defendants left Apia on November 16 on a malaga or iournev round the island. They intended' to make an inspection of villages, roads and plantations. police received information of the proposed malaga and a party of police went to Loutuanuu, which had been gazetted as a disturbed area, and brought the defendants to Apia. Evidence was given that the maiaga was being conducted according to instructions contained in a document that had been found in the Hon O. F. Nelsons residence. j Sub-Inspector Fell said that he found the defendants in a fale. or meeting house, with other chiefs and between 300 and 400 natives were present, l hey made no trouble and agreed to return to Apia. ... ~ .. His Honor, Judge Luxford, said it had been proved that the Mau was a seditious organisation and there was direct evidence that the defendants were identified with the movement. The Defence. The defendants elected to give evidence and in all cases pleaded that thev 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 that the Mau believed 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 defendant 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 in to all their demands. ... . In his judgment Chief Judge Luxford said that the charge of being members of a seditious organisation had been proved beyond all doubt. It was bis 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 disclosed that the Mau was a seditious and 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 an organisation set itself up to oppose and upset the Government it was a seditious organisation. Serious Offences. His Honor referred briefly to the past history of the islands, and said that a country like Samoa did not learn to govern itself except after years of hard patient study by its people. The offences proved were very serious and his Honor imposed the following sentences: Autagavaia, twelve months; Une, six months; Molio, six months; Leutele, six months; Solea, six months; Leleua, six months; Su, six months; Faalavaau, nine months. Autagavaia was leader of the malaga and Faalavaau was secretary of the Mau.