“MAU HOLDS ADVANTAGE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 916, 8 March 1930, Page 1

“MAU HOLDS ADVANTAGE”

MR. 0. F. NELSON’S OPINION POLITE REFUSALS “The Mau has certainly emerged from the conference in a much better position than the Administrator and the Minister,” stated Mr. O. F. Nelson this morning, when interviewed by a SUN representative upon the conference between the Administrator, Mr. S. S. Alien, and the Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, and the Mau, which closed yesterday. “The Mau was Invited to what was described a friendly conference,” said Mr. Nelson. “When it arrived it was confronted with an ultimatum from the Administrator which insisted that the Mau should end; that the wanted men must be surrendered; and that then a conference would be held. “The Mau, however, very politely declined. Very politely it stated that it was not favourable to the breaking up of the organisation and, as far as the wanted men were concerned, intimated that no opposition would be made to their arrest. In effect it said that the Administrator could catch them if he could. As to the third point regarding a conference the Samoans politely intimated that they wanted to go home. “Although it was supposed to be a friendly conference there appears to have been very little give and take,” said Mr. Nelson. “As far as the Administrator was concerned it was apparently all take.” In regard to the arrest of the Mau’s solicitor, Mr. T. B. Slipper, Mr. Nelson said that according to a cable message received from Samoa the £lO5 fine that had. also beei* imposed in addition to the term of imprisonment had already been subscribed by his friends. The offer of £5,000 bail in the event of an appeal being lodged had also been made. Three days ago a reply had been sent stating that if necessary that amount would be doubled in Auckland. Details were also asked for in regard to the charges so that grounds for an appeal could be ascertained. Mr. Nelson said that so far a reply had not been received.