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aided by the local police, peacefully arrested some four hundred uniformed members of the Mau who were parading the streets of Apia. These Natives were tried before the High Court, found guilty of intimidation, and each sentenced to six months' imprisonment. During their few days of imprisonment they were addressed on several occasions by the Administrator in conciliatory terms. They failed to respond in any degree, however, and through their spokesman, Tamasese, made it plain that their aim now was to free themselves altogether from the Administration of New Zealand and to conduct their own government. It now became apparent to the New Zealand Government that it would be necessary for MajorGeneral Sir George Richardson to appear in person before the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations to explain the position of affairs that had arisen, and in view of the expiration of his extended term of office in March, 1928, it was clear that a new Administrator of Western Samoa must be appointed. Again applying his policy of conciliation, Sir George Richardson felt that a mark of clemency as his last official act in Samoa might have a good effect, and consequently he remitted the sentences of all the members of the Mau, and they were accordingly released. They were urged to return to their homes, which after a short delay they did, leaving a committee in Apia to continue the movement. On the departure of the warships a force of marines was left in Samoa as a necessary means of protection and enforcement of order, and this force has recently been relieved and replaced by a detachment of seventy-four military police with the same distinct and limited object. Sir George Richardson ceased to function as Administrator on the 31st March, 1928, and Colonel S. S. Allen, C.M.G., D.5.0., who was appointed by the New Zealand Government to succeed him, arrived in Apia on the 4th May. At the conclusion of the period covered by this report the Mau movement was still apparently of considerable strength. The picketing of the streets has of course ceased, and apart from isolated cases of larrikinism there has not at any time been any resort to force either on the part of the Administration or the disaffected Natives. The movement is now one of passive resistance and non-co-operation, carried out to such an extent that the Administration is to an appreciable degree ineffective, and much of what the Government are confident is the excellent work performed to further the moral and material progress of the Samoans is in danger of destruction. Indeed, to a great extent it has already been very seriously affected, as a perusal of this report must clearly indicate. Not the least among the Administration's difficulties has been the attitude of that substantial proportion of the Samoans who have remained loyal to the Administration. These Natives, naturally unable to take a long view of the situation, have from time to time become exasperated with what they regard as the inactivity of the Administration in the face of provocation by their enemies of the Mau, and on occasions have threatened to take the law into their own hands and to commence open hostilities. As to the future the New Zealand Government are in no doubt. They recognize that it is their duty to govern Samoa no less under the mandate than by virtue of the dictates of humanity, and they are determined not to fail in their duty. They are, however, exceedingly reluctant, except in the very last resort, to apply force to these misguided Natives, whose actions they are convinced are due entirely to ignorance and to the evil and by-no-means disinterested guidance of certain Europeans. In view of the necessity of appointing a new Administrator to succeed Major-General Sir George Richardson, it has been felt advisable to give the recalcitrant Samoans a further opportunity to realize the position and to accustom themselves to the new Administrator before any firmer steps should be decided upon. In the meantime the position is being closely watched, and every effort will be made to seize any development that may promise an amicable settlement of the difficulty. Toleration is being extended to the uttermost, and no opportunity of showing the disaffected Natives the error of their agitation is being lost. There has been no lack of patience in the policy adopted up to the present, and it has been considered the wisest course in the circumstances to continue this attitude of watchful toleration in the meantime, but should this policy fail the Administration must ultimately fall back upon stronger measures. ANNUAL REPORT BY THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE YEAR 1927-28. The following Annual Report on Western Samoa for the year 1927-28 is submitted in a similar form to that for the previous year. It comprises (1) the Administrator's covering remarks, (2) departmental reports, and (3) answers to the League of Nations' Questionnaire. I. OFFICIAL VISITS. Early in June last the Hon. Mr. Nosworthy, Minister of External Affairs, visited the Territory and remained for two weeks, during which period he visited a number of districts in Upolu and one district in Savai'i. A report of his visit appears in Parliamentary Paper A.-4b., 1927. 11. TRADE. While some of the principal exports —viz., cacao and rubber —were in excess of the previous year, the total trade was slightly less, due to a reduction in imports. Market prices for cacao have been good, and private planters have had a prosperous year.

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