More Unrest In Samoa

Mr. O. F. Nelson Now Leading An Agitation Against the N.Z. Labour Government

From Our Own Correspondent APIA. August 1.

THERE are indications that we are in for another period of political unrest. The pressure which unruly elements are placing upon the New Zealand Government probably will lead to trobule.

During the past month or so, there have been two incidents involving public disorder; arrangements have been made for a deputation to carry to New Zealand a series of demands which are regarded as excessive; and there have been a number of manifestations of a bad and aggressive temper on the part of the Mau.

All the indications are that Samoa generally is happy and peaceful and that a comparatively small coterie of trouble-makers led by Mr. 0. E.

Nelson, are causing all the unrest.

THE first incident occurred on July 20.

For several days, the members of the Man had been assembled in the village of Vaimoso, near Apia (which is the Mau headquarters) where they had been carrying out ceremonies in commemora tion of the death of High Chief Tama sese, who most unfortunately was killed in the riot of December, 1929. The Mau has an organisation of what are called “Mau police” whose duties —and they take them very seriously are to maintain order and direct traffic during the Mau’s vari ous processions, ceremonies, etc. They wear a special uniform and head-dress.

A number of these Mau “police” were posted along the main south road (which runs through Vaimoso) about 9 p.m. on July 20, when Mr. W. Clark, a well-known and respected European, came along on a bicycle.

The “police” ordered him to get off his cycle and walk through the village.

This interference with traffic on the main road by the unofficial police has been a subject of grievance with non - Mau Samoans and Europeans for some time.

Mr. Clark could see no reason for the order, and he refused to get off his cycle.

He was thereupon attacked by the “pol ice,” thrown off his cycle and, while he was lying upon the ground, he was struck on the face and neck and severely in jured. The “police” then went away.

Mr. Clark lodged complaints with the Acting-Administrator, with the official police, and with the leader of the Mau,

who is now High Chief‘Tamasese. (The late leader of the Man, High Chief Fau muina, is now in charge of the official Samoan police.) The assult caused much indignation among the Europeans.

Messrs. A. G. Smyth and I. H. Carmthers, members of the Legislative Council, made a strong protest to Mr. Turnbull.

Next day, six Man “policemen” were arrested (the irony of it!) by Faumuina, and they were brought to trial on charges of obstruction of a public road, and as sault, on the 22nd, before Chief Judge S. Morling and Native Assessor Judge Anapu.

The evidence was interesting. It showed that the Man “police” had been freely interfering with main road traffic, and claiming that “Man law camp before Government law.” Judge Anapu, examin ing a witness, remarked that "Fa a Samoa’’ (old Samoan custom) should be considered before Government law, and was thereupon admonished by the Chief Judge.

The Judge dismissed the charges against five of the “policemen” on the ground that there was nothing to show that they had obstructed a public road; and the sixth man, Ueni, was found guilty of assaulting Mr. Clark and was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment.

The Court’s decision was received by the majority of Europeans with anger and indignation. They have pointed out that Judge Morling, only a week before, sent a Samoan to goal for 12 months for

assaulting another Samoan. Judge Mor ling has been only a few months in the Territory and knows little of the poli tical background of Mau offences.

Just before the conclusion of the trial.

a large party of Mau adherents, from the Falealili district, wearing war dress and paint, passed the Court building, march ing along the main beach road towards Vaimoso. The natives were in jubilant mood, shouting and singing, and appar ently celebrating the decision of the Court in favour of the Mau, Near the Court, two shots were fired by somebody in the Mau group.

There was another serious incident on July 24.

Unruly Natives In Apia

A Mau procession of about 150 Samoans, in ceremonial dress, with their faces painted black, and each armed with either an axe, a nifo oki (the large beheading knife of old Samoa), a spear, or a gun, passed through Apia’s main beach street. The natives were shouting and singing, and brandishing their wea pons, and everywhere were impeding the traffic. At several points, the guns were fired. They were on their way to Vai moso.

The head of the procession met a car in which was Mrs. Braisby, (wife of the

Inspector of Police) in front of Messrs.

Morris, Hedstrom’s grocery store. Mrs.

Braisby was just leaving in her car. The natives called upon her to stop. They got hold of her car compelling her to stop and they pushed the car back.

A number of excited natives sur rounded the car, pointing their weapons in a threatening manner at Mrs. Braisby.

One of the Samoans, armed with a large nifo oki, forced the knife into the hood of the car, causing considerable damage to the hood.

The Samoans around the car called out to their chiefs, asking whether they should do anything to Mrs. Braisby. The chief in command ordered them to de sist.

On the following day, a young native, Mose, of Sapunaoa, in the Falealili dis trict, was arrested for damaging Mrs.

Braisby’s car and, with him, three other members of the procession were charged with being in possession of guns for no lawful purpose, and with discharging firearms in a public place.

The charge against Mose was that he wilfully damaged the property of Mrs.

Braisby, that he was a disorderly person found armed with an offensive and dan gerous weapon, and that he behaved in a threatening manner, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

The case was heard on July 27 by Chief Judge S. Morling, with Samoan Judge Anapu as assessor. The courtroom was crowded with Mau chiefs, listening to the trial. As the accused pleaded guilty, the trial took only a few hours and it was unnecessary to hear all of the evidence.

The Crown Prosecutor said that the members of the procession had no right to stop cars and traffic. They did not apply for permission to hold a procession.

The evidence indicated a very arrogant attitude and unmannerly action. An entire lack of respect for the law was shown. This was the second occurrrence of the kind, calculated to cause appre hension to peaceful persons, irrespective of race and creed.

All the accused were convicted. Mose was sentenced to three months’ imprison ment on the first charge (wilful damage to property) and convicted and dis charged on the two other charges; while, of the three other accused, two were sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and one to two weeks’ imprisonment.

Public opinion is that the sentences were too light and not adequate to the offences and to the political background against which they were committed.

European Residents’ Protest

The European elected members of the Legislative Council, Messrs. Smyth and Carruthers, have addressed strong letters of protest to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, dealing with the cases of Mr.

Clark and Mrs. Braisby, pointing out the seriousness of the situation, and ask ing for immediate steps to be taken to restore order and guarantee protection to the inhabitants. The United Progres sive Party has also forwarded a strong and dignified protest to New Zealand. The Chamber of Commerce and the Planters Association have taken similar action. It

is intended to hold a public indignation meeting in connection with the various incidents.

Deputation To New Zealand

It was announced at a Council meeting by the Acting Administrator that the N.Z. Government would receive a depu tation of the Fono of Faipule (native parliament), which is to proceed to New Zealand in September, to lay before the Government various demands of the Fono of Faipule and the Mau movement (which bodies are practically identical, owing to the Fono having a large Mau majority).

The members of the deputation will be Mr. 0. F. Nelson; his daughter, Miss Olive Nelson (as legal adviser); Hon.

Tamasese, M.L.C., (son-in-law of Mr.

Nelson; and Alipia (speaker of the Fono of Faipule).

The “demands” are briefly as follow: The repatriation of all Chinese plantation lab ourers from the Territory.

All laws and ordinances passed by the Legis lative Council to be submitted, subsequently, to the Samoan Fono of Faipule, for approval.

Appointment of Mr. O. F. Nelson as Fa’atonu (official adviser) to the Administration on Samoan affairs, and to the Legislative Council and the Finance Board.

An official appointment in the Administration for Miss Olive Nelson (daughter of Mr. O. F.

Nelson).

Salaries of £3OO per annum each for the Fau luas (native advisers) of the Administration.

An increase in the number of Samoan judges, and plantation inspectors, each to be provided with personal servants as messengers.

Representation of Samoans on the banana ex port control committee (aiming at Mau control of the latter).

Wages of Samoan officials to be the same as those of European officials.

Mr. Nelson’S Attitude

Mr. Nelson, the Mau leader, on July 29 received a wireless message from the New Zealand Government, inquiring about recent disturbances. He read it to a Mau meeting at Vaimoso, and informed his audience that he had discussed the matter with the Acting Administrator, to whom he had stated his opinions that the incidents should not have been taken up by the police and the court, but “settled by diplomacy.” Mr. Nelson reported further that he asked the Acting Admini strator to forbid newspaper correspon dents to report these incidents.

It is interesting to remember that when he was an exile in New Zealand, Mr. Nelson, in his personal newspaper, the Samoan Guardian, bitterly criticised the alleged “press censorship” of the then Samoan Administration. Mr. Nel son’s views seem to have changed. On this subject he is—naturally, perhaps— in perfect agreement with Fono of Fai

pule, who recently asked the Acting Administrator to stop press representa tives from reporting their debates and activities.

At a recent meeting of the Legislative Council some pertinent questions were asked by ’ the Samoan members which suggested that the Mau Movement is now seeking virtual control of the admini stration of the territory.

It is particularly significant that, dur ing a discussion on the relatively unim portant Land Survey Ordinance, the Samoan members (Tamasese and Tuala) moved repeatedly that the usual legal phraseology of the ordinance, which refers to “Crown Land” and “at His Majesty’s pleasure” be deleted from the ordinance and be replaced by the term “Government of Samoa.” Government of Samoa means, with these gentlemen, Government by the Mau.

The Malts Regrets

High Chief Tamasese, leader of the Mau, early in August, radio’d the N.Z.

Government and expressed regret for the incidents which caused alarm, and said

that the desire of the Samoans and him self was to co-operate with the Govern ment to maintain peace and good will between the Samoans and the Europeans.

The Samoans would help the police to bring the offenders to justice, “if such was necessary.”

Mr. R. J. Lever, newly appointed Government Entomologist in Fiji, arrived in Suva by the July Monowai. He was formerly stationed in the British Solomon Islands.

Dr. C. J. Austin, Medical Super intendent at the Makogai Leper Station, Fiji, left Suva by the Monowai recently on long leave. He was accompanied by Mrs. Austin.

Dr. A. J. Eapan, who has a practice in Fiji, arrived in Sydney by the Nar kunda on August 5, after a holiday in Madras, India. With his wife and child, he will shortly return to Suva.

Rev. E. Lawton, of the Melanesian Mission, returned to Norfolk Island, where he has been Anglican Vicar since 1932, by the Morinda from Sydney on August 7.