A—4

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Notes of Fono held at Vaimoso, Tuesday, 4th March, 19-30. Present: His Excellency the Administrator, the Minister df Defence, the Commodore, Mr. F. G. Lewis, Faumuina and Tuimalealiifano (representing the Mail), Malietda arid Mat.a'afa (representing loyal Samoans) ; Tamasese also was present.* Faumuina. after greeting His Excellency and party, thanked His Excellency for the time given for deliberation. He stated that the Mau were in the middle df their consideration 5f the points given the previous day. The absence of some members of the Mau not yet returned from the bush was delaying a decision. The Administrator said he was sorry that a decision had not been arrived at, but understood th 6 difficulties. Still, they must realize the necessity for completing deliberations at some defiuite time! He was prepared to allow them further time and would like to discuss with them any difficulties which may have arisen at the fono. Faumuina thanked His Excellency the Administrator for his remarks. He was speaking 011 behalf of the Samoans, and could not give a decision himself. Since the fono had not been concluded, he and Tuimalealiifano had been sent by the rest of the Mau to explain. The Mau understood the position thoroughly, and did not need any assistance in the way of explanations or information this morning. The Administrator understood the position with regard to the delay, but considered it desirable * that a time-limit be fixed. He suggested 10 a.m. to-morrow, and hoped that that time would be suitable. This, however, must be the final time. Faumuina said, " I have 110 objection at all to your intention. You have the right and power to do what you think necessary. I will pass over your decision to the Samoans, and I cannot say now what will happen to-morrow. When Your Excellency arrives to-morrow you will have the right to decide what to do if a decision is not ready. You will find us all in Vaimoso as we do not intend to go to the bush. That is my reply." The Administrator said that he was thankful to know that they will all be in Vaimoso as it would give him an opportunity of introducing the Commodore to as many as possible. He hoped that that fono would meet a successful issue. Report of Meeting held at Vaimoso, sth March, 1930, at 10 a.m. Present: His Excellency the Administrator; The Honourable J. G. Cobbe ; The Commodore Commanding New Zealand Station ; The Secretary for Native Affairs ; Commander Jeffreys, R.N. ; Malietoa Tanu, Fautua; Mata'afa, Fautua ; Faumuina; Tuimalealiifano; Mata'u K.; the brother of the late Tamasese, and a large number of Mau Samoans inside and surrounding the fale. Faumuina : Your Excellency, and the Minister, and the members of the Government, you have now met us again this morning, and we are now assembled again this morning. It is hoped that whatever may be the result of our meeting to-day we may be all satisfied with it. We spoke yesterday of the wishes of the Samoans who are in the Mau regarding the points which you have put before us for discussion. I put before you the wish of the Samoans asking for time in order that we might be able to discuss them, and Your Excellency in reply said that the time for our discussion must be limited. I replied to that, and Your Excellency said that you would be coming to-day. When Your Excellency said that you would be coming to-day I answered that you could do so by your own wish, but I would not say that you are coming for a decision to-day—that we would be able to announce our decision to-day —I did not say that. We have discussed from yesterday to this morning the different points Your Excellency put before us. The first which Your Excellency laid down was "to end the Mau." The Samoans have now come to a decision in regard to the one point, but they have not come to a decision yet in regard to the other two points. They are still discussing. With regard to your point " to end the Mau," the answer of the Samoans for whom I am now speaking is that the Man will not end ; because the Mau is the mouthpiece of the Samoans to meet you, or, I take it, the Mau will be the only channel for the Samoans to speak with you. That is the answer, and that is all that the Samoans can decide in that matter, and they put it to me to place before you. In regard to the other two points—meeting, and the wanted men —we are unable to come to a decision in regard to those two points. We are still discussing them. Soifua. His Excellency the Administrator : I am very glad to meet you again this morning and to hear what you have to say. There are a few things that I should like to take this opportunity of saying in case I do not get a further opportunity of speaking to you, because, although I am pleased to hear that the Mau is the mouthpiece or the way by which you can approach the Administrator, that way has not been utilized during the last two years in spite of the many approaches which I have made to you and the many opportunities I have given you of discussing matters and the ways in which 1 have sought to find out what grievances you have and why we cannot work together. It is right that at this time I should explain to you as carefully as I can what the intentions and wishes of the Government are in regard to the Samoan people. The Samoan people during the last ten years have been subject to the civil administration of New Zealand and prior to that to the military occupation. The constant aim of the New Zealand Government, and of the Samoan Administration working under it, has been to give the Samoan people a larger and larger share in the concerns of the Government, to improve their education, increase their opportunities for advancement, with a view to increasing their fitness to take part in the affairs of the Government, keeping in mind this ultimate object of the Samoan people governing themselves.

*Note. —This would refer to the newly-elected Tamasese.