The Mau
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
Prince Henry And
Incident of Samoan Visit
WE have been supplied with copies of two letters, signed by leaders of the Mau, which were sent to Government House, Apia, on February 5, 1935, on the occasion of the visit of H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester. They are as follow: — Faleata, Vaimoso, 5th February, 1935.
His Excellency, Brigadier-General H. E. Hart, Administrator for Western Samoa, Apia.
Sir, —We beg leave to enclose a letter to His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester which we respectfully ask you to cause to be delivered to His Royal Highness on his arrival in Samoa, and wish to repeat to Your Excellency our regrets that conditions still existing in Samoa do not per mit of our participating in the welcome reception and function being prepared for His Royal High ness. The ceremony to be held at the Clock Tower only reminds us that the man who pre sented that memorial, and paid for most of the cost of the tower is now in exile from his native country, because of the harsh laws against which we have complained for so long without avail. We feel confident that should His Royal Highness desire it, the whole of our petitions and prayers for the redress of our grievances will be placed before him.
We have the honour to remain. Sir, Your most humble servants, (Signed by 14 Mau leaders).
“Samoa Mo Samoa”
Faleata, Vaimoso, 5th February, 1935.
His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester, Apia.
Sir, —On behalf of the Samoan national organisa tion known as “O le Mau” of which the very large majority of the Samoans are adherents, we beg leave to extend to Your Royal Highness a sin cere welcome to Samoa, and our heartiest good wishes that you will enjoy your short stay in our country.
It was our earnest hope that the Mandatory Government will have given due consideration to our longstanding and oft-repeated complaints, and removed the harsh laws against us, so we could have gladly participated in the welcome functions and addresses being prepared for Your Royal Highness. Nevertheless, we sincerely pray that your visit to these Islands will be a most interest ing, and a very successful one.
We have the honour to remain, Sir, Your most humble servants, (Sgd.) Tuimalealiifano, (Sgd.) Faumuina Fiame, Prince. President of the Mau. (Sgd.) Tamasese, Prince. (Sgd.) District of: Aufa’i Gagaemauga (Saleaula) Alipia S. Aana (Leulumoega) Tuilagi Faasaleleaga Tupa’i Atua (Lufilufi) Autagavaia Palauli Masoe E. Vaisigano Talamaivao Vaa-o-Fonoti Lavea T. Gagaifomauga (Safotu) Fata T. Tuamasaga (Tuisamau) Vaafataua’i Satupaitea Lei’ataua T. Aiga-i-le-Tai We have been informed that, at the end of February, the Mau leaders had received no acknowledgment of those letters.
Mr. L. H. Courlander and Mr. Riley, of the Solomon Islands, arrived in Sydney by the Malaita recently. While in Sydney they made their headquarters at “Belve dere,” Darlinghurst.
Mrs. G. F. Cradick, of Lautoka, Fiji, arrived in Australia recently after an ex tended tour of Europe and England. She left Sydney for Suva by the Niagara on February 28.