Samoan Mau Influence Waning

Malietoa Now Has 8,000 Adherents Extremists Try To Wreck Administration's Banana Scheme

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Oct. 1.

THE political situation here has devel oped considerably during the past few weeks.

It is apparent that the Nelson-led sec tion of the Mau (which means all the Mau that matters) feels that it has over reached itself; and an attempt is being made in some quarters to get back to safer ground.

Against that, however, there is an at tempt by the Mau to get control of the banana packing and export industry; and this is being strongly resisted, not only by the Europeans, but also by an important section of the Samoans them selves.

The N.Z. Government must have ex pressed some very strong opinions to Mr.

Nelson concerning the recent agitations: and it is evident that Mr. Nelson’s offi cial attitude in political matters is com paratively chastened.

It is significant that, at the request of the N.Z. Government, the delegation of Faipule (which was virtually a Nelson family party) to Wellington, to place a series of requests and demands before the Government, has been postponed until January.

The main topic of the hour is a move by the Mau to destroy the present system of collecting, packing and shipping ban anas, under Government control, to New Zealand: and the substitution therefor of a plan whereby the industry would be controlled by the Mau.

The demands were made in a letter to the Administrator by Chief Tamasese, president of the Mau, who alleges against the present system “suspicion, distrust, dissatisfaction and favouritism.” Sum marised, the demands are: The removal of banana-packing and storing sheds from Mulifanua road, as they are “ugly” and an “eyesore”; No issue of extra banana cases which are to replace reject cases of fruit un suitable for export; The appointment of two Samoans (Mau representatives) on the Inspection Board, which is to be created; The removal of the banana export in dustry from Government control to pri vate enterprise and to “private commer cial concerns.”

There are about 500 Samoan and Euro pean banana-shippers.

It is stated that at present at least one-third of the Samoan banana-shippers belong to the hew Malietoa party and

strongly disagree with the views ex pressed by the Man leader. The Euro peans, whom the Man hopes to cut out altogether from the banana export trade, ship on an average 38 per cent of the bananas. Thus, only 30 per cent of the

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High Chief Malietoa Tanu, O.B. E., Mr.

A. C. Turnbull (Acting Administrator of Western Samoa), and Hon. F. Langstone (of the N.Z. “Goodwill Mission”) photo graphed together at Apia in July, 1936, on the occasion of the welcome given to Mr. O. F. Nelson on his return to Samoa after a period of banishment in N.Z.

banana exports are shipped by Mau ad herents.

Practically since the beginning of the banana export scheme the “loyalist” (or Malietoa) districts, Maliefega, Fasito’o, and Lauli’i, have supported the Govern ment-created banana export industry, while the Mau members have done their best to wreck it —going as far as boycot ting it and prohibiting shipping of bananas by Mau adherents, under threat

Mau. It is expected that this opposition to the Mau, in some way a revival of the old “loyalist” party, may finally draw about half the Mau adherents away from the Mau.

The new party apparently started in the Malietoa district of Vaimauga East, near Apia, which openly, at the Mau headquarters at Vaimoso, declared its succession from the Mau movement. Other districts quickly followed this example.

of eviction from the villages and heavy fines. Now these same people ask for what amounts to virtual control of the system.

The control of the Islands fruit trade is a policy matter with the N.Z. Govern ment and it is unlikely that the latter will allow any interference by a minority with the present organisation, which is working very successfully.

Rally To Malietoa

There are many indications of a serious political split in the ranks of the Samoans.

This, in fact, became inevitable since the Mau party, loudly cock-a-hoop over its recognition by the N.Z. Government, directed its influence against the highly respected moderate leader, High Chief Malietoa Tanu, 0.8. E., and compelled him to resign from the Legislative Council.

When the head of the Malietoa clan thus departed from the Mau-dominated coun cils of the Territory, a large number of the better-class Samoans felt that they must follow him, as they have done all through history.

To-day it is estimated that 8,000 Samo ans have joined the Malietoa party, which definitely is anti-Mau and, of course, anti-Nelson. The new party has adopted a distinctive uniform of khaki lavalava, with red stripes, as against the purple or dark blue, with white stripes, of the

Plea For Real Samoan Leaders

A sharp controversy has been raging in the local newspapers between various mouthpieces of the Mau leaders and European correspondents, concerning the restless politics of this country. It should make it clear to the N.Z. Government that action is needed to stop once and for all the participation jf Europeans in native Samoan politico. There are suffi cient honest and trusted and capable Samoan chiefs of the old admirable type, true gentlemen of the South Seas, who can lead their countrymen and work with the Administration and the Euro

Packing bananas for export to the N.Z. market—a common scene in a Samoan village.

Photo by Tattersall, Apia.

pean residents for the common good, and the progress and development of Samoa.

The Samoans should be protected against Europeans, white or of mixed descent, whose interference, as Samoan history clearly proves, has never brought them any luck.

The only section of the population which really are in need of economic assistance are not the native Samoans, but the 3,000 European-Samoans (of mixed descent). The N.Z. Government tries to help the many local-born unem

ployed by creating land-settlements and employment on public works. The Euro peans also are doing their best to employ the local-born in commercial and agri cultural posts. Mr. Nelson, although ab bitious as to leadership of the native Samoans, shows little interest in the fate of these deserving people.

Mau Starts Its Own Court

Concerning Mau ambitions and activi ties, there has been one very remarkable development.

In Palauli district (Savaii), known as the seat of the most rabid Mau adherents, and represented in the Fono by the ex tremist chief Autagavaia, an indepen dent “court” was established some time ago, in defiance of the Government Court Trials are held before Mau judges, and native offenders are sentenced to terms varying from eight days to nine years of imprisonment, with hard labour. The Mau authorities even paraded their “con victed” prisoners in front of the Resi dent Commissioner’s house, and asked him for tools to be used by their “prison ers.” A prison has been established, which some time ago harboured at least five prisoners.

The Palauli Mau, however, committed an error of judgment when they impri soned two natives of the neighbouring district of Satupaitea. This brought the latter district up in arms against the Palauli Mau, and they demanded that the Satupaitea prisoners be set free at once, as they did not recognise an unlawfully

constituted Mau Court. They declared that if their demand was not complied with, they would use force, and that they were ready to fight if necessary. So far, no additional information has been re ceived concerning this matter.

Chinese Labourers

Regarding the Chinese labour question, the period of contract of the Chinese has been extended until February next. But with the present war going on in China, there is little likelihood of any trans ports being available for Chinese coolies, and this circumstance should suit the N Z. Government very well and “save its face” in a delicate situation. We expect the Chinese labour to be available for some time, despite Mau interference.