SELF-GOVERNMENT WANTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 168, 6 October 1927, Page 11

SELF-GOVERNMENT WANTED

MORE EVIDENCE BY SAMOANS OBJECTS AND DESIRES OF THE MAU THE Samoan Commission is hearing; further evidence from I natives, who urge that the natives desire self-govern-ment. Questions are being asked as to the precise object of the Mail (Samoa League), and its activities. Special to Press Association. — By Wireless

Reed. 11.33 a.m. APIA, Wednesday. 'J'AMASEL TAIFAU, a member of the Mau (Samoan League) informed the commission that the Samoans wanted self-government. The Mau had told the people in the villages not to pay taxes and not to hand beetles to the Government officials, but to the Mau representatives. Lavea Tausatino gave evidence that he was sent to prison for contempt of court. He had informed the Commissioner of the High Court that he would not allow his sons to appear in answer to the summons, as all the members of the Mau were told by the Mau not to accept summonses from the High Court. He regarded the Citizens’ Committee (six Samoans and six Europeans) with the chiefs of Samoa, as the head of the Mau. The whole of the Mau, in a meeting at Lepea. had decided upon the matters on which he had given evidence. The Commission at four o’clock on Wednesday rose an hour before time, as a native witness was not forthcoming. Mr. V. R. Meredith, appearing for the Crown, said permission had been granted a certain banished chief to remain in Apia for the purpose of giving evidence, and there seemed to be a danger that the concession was being abused. He referred to Paumuina and Lagolago, leaders of the Mau movement, who instead of giving evidence and then leaving Apia were showing a tendency to stimulate the Mau movement. Sir Charles Skerrett, chairman of the Commission: We must insist that the assurance already given is strictlv observed. Mr. T. B. Slipper undertook to call them next day. He said all his wit. nesses seemed to be attending a native reception at the Hon. O. F. Nelson’s Lepea village, and were forgetting their duty to the Commission. After discussion it was agreed to confer and classify the evidence and record it in order to avoid tedious repetition.—A. and N.Z. BANISHED NATIVES MORE GRIEVANCES Reed. 9.5 a.m. APIA, Wed. Leilua, who is living in banishment, attributed his situation to another! Savii, a Faipule and chief, against whom witness had taken court action, because or abusive language. Cross-examined, the witness admitted that nine of his relatives had petitioned for his banishment, and for his title to be taken away. Vevesi, formerly a Pulenuu, deposed that He had been deprived of his title for no reason of which he knew. He had approached the Native Department with grievances against certain Faipules, and had been told to go back and reconcile them, but he had refused. He was a member of the Mau (Samoa League). He was not aware that government of Samoa

by Samoans was the object of th. Mau, but if the Mandates CommiLiee gave Samoa the same privileges as Tonga had, that would be all right. To Sir Charles Skerrett, chairman of the commission: 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. Tagaloa Taloaina said he had bean imprisoned for refusal to obey the Administrator’s order to return home. He deposed that he knew of no acts of his or the Mau to justify the order. They had been crying for peace, order and good government of the territory ail the time. He admitted that the Administrator undertook to meet them and listen to them in the towns and villages, but that was not what they wanted, so he had stayed on in Apia. Government of Samoa by the Samoans was the general object of the Mau. —A. and N.z.

RANDWICK FATALITY /YELL-KNOWN JOCKEY KILLE HORSE DESTROYED By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyrigl SYDNEY, Wednesday. A fatality occurred to-day at Ranc wick during the hurdle race. Coste fell at the first hurdle and the jockey N. McKinnon, a well-known rider, was killed. When McKinnon was picked up he was dead. His neck was found to have been broken. The horse was so badly injured that it had to be destroyed.—A. and N.Z.