WORK OF THE MAU

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 262, 26 January 1928, Page 1

WORK OF THE MAU

AMERICAN TERRITORY AFFECTED MR. COATES IN DEFENCE Press Association. WELLINGTON, To-day “REPLYING to the attack made -F* l on the Government’s Samoa i policy by Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader . of. the Opposition, the Prime Minister, Mr, Coates, points out that certain reasons are alleged for the dissatisfaction in Samoa with the New Zealand authorities,- and asks if they explain the unfeqt in Western Samoa. “How is if.,” he asks, “that the Mau has extended its activities to American Samoa, where these reasons cannot hold good?” Mr, Coate?? quotes extensively from the American official organ to show that the Mau is interfering in American territory and is refusing to pay taxes. The reply, of Capt’ain Graham, the Governor, was that the Government would be administered according to the established laws.

“PRIME MINISTER GIVES NO REPLY”

QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED Press Association. « WESTPORT, To-day. Mr.' H, Holland, M.P., states that Mr. Coates’s latest remarks sent out by the Press constituted no reply to his questions. Mr. Coates offered no explanation why he would not let members of Parliament have the Royal Commission’s report and accompanying evidence, and he did not attempt to explain the glaring contradiction to which he had drawn attention. “If Mr. Coates’s latest assertion is correct, and if the Mau is really responsible for the trouble at Samoa, where was his justification of punishing by deportation without trial Europeans whom he declared were guilty of no offence whatever?” states Mr. Holland. Mr. Coates and his Government would not be permitted to shelter behind what was happening at Eastern Samoa under American rule. “If his statement regarding the trouble at Tutuila was correct it might p-ove one of two things. Either that the Samoans in the Eastern Group felt that they also had cause to be dissatisfied with the way in which their islands were being governed, or that the psychological influence of unrest in Western Samoa had extended to the East. A student of native psychology would expect this latter to happen in any case. “New Zealand had no legislative or administrative responsiblity in regard to Eastern Samoa, but had a duty to see that its administration of Western Samoa was not weighted down with indefensible acts of tyranny.”

POLICE FOR SAMOA AUCKLANDERS TO SAIL (Special to THE SUN.) WELLINGTON, To-day. Six constables from Auckland will leave fop Samoa by the Tofua on Saturday. This is the latest development of events in the mandated territory. It is not expected that any serious trouble has developed but the constables are being sent as an emergency. Since the recent Royal Comgxtesion, which culminated in the

banishment of the Hon. O. F. Nelson, Mr. A. G. Smyth and. Mr. E. W. Gurr, some of the natives have become obstinate and provokingly aggressive, though not openly. A boycott has been declared by natives on all goods entering the mandated territory of Samoa except m'atches, kerosene, sugar and soap, which are considered necessities. The aggressive natives have also refused to pay fines or to collect the rhinoceros beetle, thus causing the authorities some concern. Apparently the constables are being sent as a precautionary measure. If further trouble does develop they will he ready for it. It is believed that the six constables are being sent temporarily, and that when the trouble has ended they will return to Auckland. The police force of Western Samoa consists of a total strength of 31—four Europeans, including two born on the island. The locally born European officers, although without previous police experience, continue to give satisfaction, their knowledge of the Samoan language being of great value, says the annual report of the Mandated Territory of Western Samoa, which was presented to Parliament last session