POSITION IN SAMOA.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17973, 19 March 1930, Page 5

POSITION IN SAMOA.

THE TROUBLE WANING. TACT OF MINISTER. THE FUTURE HOPEFUL. AUCKLAND, Wednesday. By the Tofua, which arrived from the Islands yesterday morning, there were a number of passengers who boarded the vessel at Apia. The general opinion expressed by them was that the trouble in the mandated territory was waning, and all spoke in high terms of the tact and dignity that had been exercised by New Zealand s Minister of Defence during his bnef 6 Matters have improved; the Mau came in and met the Administrator and myself; the wanted -men have surrendered themselves voluntarily to the -police; and the members of the Mau have dispersed to their’various villages. The position is satisfactory, ana the future hopeful.” This brief statement was made m the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of DeSpeaking of trade conditions, Mr Cobbe said the disturbances had naturally affected business considerably. The natives had not been producing copra in any quantity, but now that they were going back to their villages he was of opinion that they would set to work in earnest once again. In regard to the meetings he had attended the Minister indicated that thev were of a dignified character. There were no “ fireworks,” the only thing that was -hot being the temperature.

RETURN OF WARSHIP. AUCKLAND, Wednesday. After being stationed at Apia for two months the cruiser Dunedin returned to Auckland to-day. MINISTER OF DEFENCE. \ CONFERRING WITH PREMIER. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Defence, who returned from Samoa yesterday, left later for Rotorua, where he will confer with the Prime Minister. ~, . Mr Cobbe will leave for Wellington during the week-end. DECISIONS AT THE CONFERENCE. ADMINISTRATOR AND CHIEFS. f At the conference with the chiefs the Administrator presented for consideration by the Mau the following .three points:—■ \ (i) To end the Mau and the people to disperse to their villages. (2) To surrender those persons who had committed offences, as there must be the same law for everyone. (3) The chiefs to meet the Administrator in fono when required to discuss any matters affecting the country either now or as may be arranged.

In explanation, Mr Allen said it was impossible for 'the present state of affairs to continue. There could be only one Government for one country. As regards the surrender of the wanted men, he did not anticipate any difficulty in coming to agreement that the men wanted should be brought to trial by law. As to the third point, it was the only way to come to a satisfactory position. Mr Allen informed the Mau chiefs of *the incapacity of the Samoan people to govern their own country. He asked them to point out the Samoan who was running a large business, and asked if any were fit to take charge of education, the hospital, and the treasury or the harbours. In his opinion none had the necessary qualifications. The following conclusions were arrived at: — (i) That the Samoans are not favourable to a break-up of the Mau organisation. (*) That no opposition will be raised to the arrest of certain wanted men on various charges. (8) The people will return to their villages. Further Meeting to be Held. Representatives of the Samoans, including High Chiefs Malietoa, Mataafa, Tuimalealiifano and Faumuina and other leading chiefs are to meet the Administrator in about two weeks to further consider the position. In the meantime the laws which were suspended during the truce have again come into operation.