SAMOAN INQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1927, Page 3

SAMOAN INQUIRY

(Special to Press Assn, by Radio.) {Received this day at 8.50 a.m.) APIA, Oct. 4. Leilua, living in banishment, attributed his situation to another, J>eilua Sivu, a Faipule Chief, against whom witness had taken a court action because of abusive language. Cross-examined, witness admitted none of his relatives had petitioned for his banishment and for his title to betaken away.

Vevesi, formerly a Puleniiu, deposed ho had been deprived of his title for no reason of which ho knew. He had approached the Native Department with grievances against certain Fniptiles, and had been iold to go back and reconcile them, but he had refused. Ho was a member of tho Man. He was unaware that the Government of Samoa by tbe Samoans wa;

• an object of tho Mail, but if the ' ' Mandates Committee gave Samoa, tlie same privileges as Tonga had, that would he all right. To Sir Charles Skerrett—He came to Apia yesterday from his home. Nobody had told him about the Mandates Commission. It was his own knowledge. Sir Charles Skerrett—“Very well.” Tngalon Taloania, said he had been imprisoned for refusal to obey the Administrator’s order to return home. He deposed he knew of no acts of his, or of Maa to justify the order. They had been crying for peace, order and good government of the territory all the time. He admitted the Administrator undertook to meet them and listen to them in the town and the villages, hut that was not what they wanted, so he had stayed on in Apia. The government, of Samoa by Samoans was the general object of tbe Mau

APIA, Oct. 5. Tomaseu Taifau, a member of the Mau, informed the Commission the Samoans wanted self government. Tho Mau had told the people in tho villages not to pay taxes, and not hand beetles to the Government officials, but to the Mau representatives. Lavea Tarisatino gave evidence that he was sent to prison for contempt of Court. Ho had informed the Commissioner of tho High Court that he would not allow his sons to appear in answer to a summons as nil were members of the Mali. They were told by the Mail not to accept summonses from the High Court. He regarded tho Citizens 'Committee of six Samoans and six Europeans, with the Chiefs of Samoa as tho head of the Mau and the whole of the Man in meeting at Laepea had decided upon the matters upon which he would give evidence.

The Commission at four o’clock on Wednesday rose an hour before time, as the native witness- was not forthcoming.

•Mr Meredith said permission had been granted a certain banished Chief to remain at Apia for the purpose of giving evidenco, and tliero seemed a danger that the concession was being abused. He referred to Fnuniunina and Lagolngo, leaders of the Alan movement, who Instead of giving evidence, and then leaving' Apia, were showing a tendency to stimulate the Man movement.

Sir Charles Skerrett said wo must insist that the assurance already given is strictly observed.

Mr Slipper undertook to call them next day. He said all his witnesses seemed to be attending a Native reception at Mr Nelson’s Lepea village and forgetting their duty. The Commission after discussion agreed to the proposal of counsel to cxjnfer and classify tho evidence and record it, in order to avofd tedious repetition. »