iv—A. 4b.

A. —4b.

and Tuisila (page 130). It might be convenient to quote the evidence of the last witness, at page 130 : — Are the objects of the Mau to get a Government of Samoa by the Samoans ?—The Samoan people to make their own Government. They do not wish any Europeans to be governing in Samoa ?—lt is my contention that the Governor and the officials of the Government be all sent away and that only the flag of the Government of Great Britain be allowed to wave over the country. Did you attend a meeting when the European members of the Citizens Committee produced their reports ? —I was present. Did you hear them explained by the European members ? —lt is the opinion of us, the chiefs of Samoa, that the Governor and Europeans be taken away from the place, that we do not wish them to rule the country : the Samoan people themselves to rule the country. Did you listen to what the Europeans had to say in their reports, or did you take no notice of them ? That was the unanimous wish of the Committee, the reports that were submitted. The second purpose of the Mau was undoubtedly to frustrate and render ineffective the functioning of the Administration. It is clear that there was an organized refusal among the members of the Mau to obey the laws and regulations. There was an organized refusal to recognize the authority of the Faipules and pulenu'us and inspectors of plantations. Generally speaking there was an organized refusal to destroy the rhinoceros-beetle, although in some districts the beetles were still being caught, but handed over to committees appointed by members of the Mau. There was an organized refusal to attend District Councils and to send their children to the Government schools. There was a, further organized refusal to attend the malagas of the Administrator and the Resident Commissioner : and to recognize the authority of Native Magistrates. These actual consequences of the Mau organization were really not in dispute before us. It was clear to us that there was an organized and deliberate attempt to frustrate and render abortive the activities of the Administration, and ultimately to set up a Samoan Government. Captain Bell is asked at page 316 — You have the responsibility for the local administration of Savai'i, subject to general supervision by the Administration ? —Yes. What will the result be so far as the government of Samoa is concerned if the present activities of the Mau are permitted to continue ? —The position is impossible. Captain Bell very properly in his evidence called attention to the importance of the malagas which the Administrator and himself from time to time made. He points out that these malagas are an important part of the machinery of administration, and are absolutely necessary, and bring the Administrator and his officers into personal contact with the Natives. Captain Bell also says that during these malagas he does his local work and stays until the work is finished, and complaints are always invited on these malagas. He contrasts the malaga in Savai'i of 1925 with the subsequent malaga in July, 1927. He says at page 314 — The last malaga the present Administrator made round Savai'i was in 1925. Everything went splendidly. There were very many improvements, the tone of the Samoans was excellent, there was no hostility towards His Excellency, the malaga was everything that one could desire. When the Governor (meaning the Governor-General) came over he visited Safotulafai and Fa'gamalo, and he commented on the wonderful reception given to him. Captain Bell's evidence continues : — Since you have been Resident Commissioner have the Samoans put forward complaints against the Administration ? —No, I have had the usual complaints about water-tanks not being fixed up, and minor complaints, but they have made no serious complaints against the Administration. What opportunities did the Natives have for putting forward their complaints ?—On my own malagas I visited different parts of this island about four times each year. During my first year I visited every village in the island. Now I visit different villages at different times according to whether they are difficult to reach or the locality is important. I send out circulars to say that lam making a malaga and that I will be there about so-and-so —I will be at a certain village at a certain time. I will stay there until all matters concerning that village have been completed. Sometimes I stay one day and sometimes seven or eight. I leave that village and go on to the next, and in that way do every village. During the time lam at the villages I ask them for any complaints, and they come to me with any matters they are troubled about. They call me their father, and sometimes, because I am a bachelor, their mother as well, and they have always treated me as such. How many times would you go round in a year % —About four times. Including malagas around Savai'i and visits to Apia I am away about half the year from these headquarters.

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