Stern Action By N.Z. Ends

Samoan Deadlock

Mau Offices Raided and Many Leaders Imprisoned

From Our Own Correspondent. APIA, Nov. 24.

ON November 13, 1933— which, by a curious coincidence, was exactly seven years, to the day, after the first large native meeting launched by the Mau— the Administration made a series of rapid spectacular moves.

The police carried out raids upon various units of the Mau organisation; with the result that Mr. Nelson and many chiefs were arrested and subsequently sentenced to imprisonment.

It looks, at the moment, as if the Mau has been finally broken up.

THE recent sensational occurrences are a logical development of the failure of the proposed fono. The N.Z. authorities had indicated their readiness to meet the Mau in conference, and make concessions which might have meant the end of the seven years’ struggle.

All went well —the Administrator (Gen eral Hart) showing remarkable patience in negotiations—until the Mau nominated Mr.

Nelson as one of its delegates. The Ad ministration flatly refused to meet Mr.

Nelson; the Mau chiefs were equally stub born in demanding his presence in their delegation to the fono; and there was a complete deadlock.

There were rumours that the Mau was plotting against the Administration.

Certainly, queer things were happening.

The Mau people began to give Mr. Nelson the Fascist salute. They also planned a complete administrative machine: how or when it was to function, no one knows.

The Administration pounced on the morning of November 15.

The steamer from New Zealand, the “Maui Pomare,” was in, and everyone was very busy, getting his mail away and transacting other “steamer day” business.

A cordon of police suddenly was drawn around the residence of Mr. O. F. Nelson, and a raid was made at 8.15 a.m., just when Mr. O. F. Nelson was busy writing his N.Z. mail. The raid, preparations for which have been quietly made for the last few weeks (European constables from out side police stations had been concentrated for the purpose in Apia) came as a com plete surprise to Mr O. F. Nelson.

A large quantity of correspondence and literature of a highly confidential nature was seized, filling two large sacks. Mr.

Nelson, himself, was placed under police guard; and was arrested a few days later and placed in confinement.

A large quantity of liquor—champagne and wine, said to have been stored since pre-prohibition days—was also confiscated, presumably on a suspicion of being

smuggled into the country; but it was returned, later on.

The office of the Mau at Vaimoso was also raided, and also the residence of R.

Kruse, a director of O. F. Nelson & Co., Ltd. In both places, additional literature was seized.

A Mau committee, consisting of eight chiefs, and the second secretary of the Mau, was arrested at Lotoanu’u, on the east coast of Upolu. They had been occu pied with the collection of money and en gaged in Mau propaganda. Among them was the chief Antagavae, of Savaii, one of the most enthusiastic adherents of the movement, who has figured in many epi sodes.

THE various radiograms from Samoa published in the Australian news papers during the past fortnight are a little confusing: but apparently they in dicate, following upon the report from our own correspondent (published above), that events have developed as follow: After the police raids on the Mau head quarters at Vaimoso (Upolu) and Mr.

Nelson’s residence, eight Samoan chiefs were arrested on charges of collecting un lawful monies and engaging in unlawful activities (probably sedition).

A week later, seven of the eight chiefs were convicted of taking part in the ac tivities of a seditious organisation. One was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment and six to six months. The hearing of the charge against the eighth chief was not concluded.

Subsequently, about December 1, six chiefs were arrested at Savaii on similar charges. They appeared before Judge Luxford on December 2, and, pleading not guilty, were remanded and kept in cus tody.

On December 7, two out of the six chiefs were sentenced to six months’ im prisonment: two were fined £1 each, and two were discharged.

There has been no report about the charges made against Mr. Nelson.