Early Rule

Background To Modern Samoa

The Mau and the Troubles of New Zealand's Early Rule

By C. Philipp

IN his first article published in June “PIM,” the author described the history of Western Samoa up to the outbreak of World War I.

In this second, and concluding, article he tells of the events subsequent to West ern Samoa becoming a League of Nations Mandate and the troubles caused by New Zealand’s muddled administration in the 1920’s and early 1930’5.

This background is interesting in view of the fact that a United Nations com mittee is at present making investigations in Western Samoa in response to an appeal by the Western Samoans for self-government and unity with American Samoa.

F BLOWING the outbreak of World War I, a New Zealand Expedition ary Force, under the command of Colonel Logan, landed in Apia. This was on August 29, 1914. But apart from when two German cruisers appeared outside

Apia harbour, the occupation of Samoa was uneventful. However, in September 1918, the SS “Talune” from New Zealand brought to Samoa the pneumonic in fluenza and in a matter of a few weeks over 6,000 natives had perished. During this disastrous period the Governor of American Samoa sent a radio to the authorities offering medical assistance; not only was the offer declined, but fur ther radio communication with Pago Pago was discontinued.

In 1920, Western Samoa was mandated to New Zealand and the German plant ations became part of New Zealand’s war reparations. To placate an anti-liquor party in New Zealand, the prohibition of liquor was proclaimed in the Territory and by 1922 home-brewing was known as “the third industry of Samoa.”

In March 1924, Tamasese offended the Government by planting a hedge near his own home. When he disobeyed an order to remove it he was banished from Apia. Before long he broke the banish ment order and, in consequence, was de prived of his chiefly title and banished for life to the neighbouring island of Savaii.

Mr, O. F. Nelson, a prominent business man of Apia, and of part Samoan des cent, on a visit to New Zealand, inter viewed the Prime Minister in relation to conditions then existing in Samoa, the principal complaints being: An excessive number of officials: insufficient local re presentation; Government proposals for the individualisation of native land; the restriction of certain Samoan customs; the banishment of political offenders; and the participation of the Government in the copra trade.

The Prime Minister, in sympathy with Nelson, requested the Minister of Exter nal Affairs to proceed to Samoa to in vestigate. After deliberating for nine months the Minister finally arrived in Apia, and on the ninth day of his stay he read an abusive address before an as sembly of 6,000 people. In this address he denounced the activities of the Citi zen’s Committee and, in conclusion, he assured his audience that “the New Zea land Government did not send a fool here.”

Two days later the Samoan Immigration Order was altered in order that British subjects and Samoan-born Europeans, could be deported from the Territory without trial.

Shortly afterwards, however, a Par liamentary Committee was appointed in New Zealand to ebnsider the original Samoan petition, which had been pre sented by Mr. Nelson. Mr. Nelson was the only witness called, and when the hearing reached the eleventh day the Prime Minister decided to appoint a Roval Commission to inquire into Samoan affairs. The inquiry was, however, little more than a means of white-washing activities of the New Zealand Govern ment, and the entire state of unrest was pinned on Nelson. Subsequently, Nelson, Judge Gurr and Mr. A. G. Smyth were deported, and Tamasese, who had violated

his banishment order, was sent to Mt.

Eden penitentiary, NZ.

ON the morning of December 28, 1929, the Samoan nationalistic organisa tion known as the “Mau” paraded through the township of Apia with the purpose of welcoming the return of Mr.

Smyth, whose two-year term of banish ment had just been completed. As one of the columns passed the Customs House the Chief of Police telephoned his con stabulary that he had spotted therein a certain native who was wanted for con tempt of Court. In the column were four High Chiefs; Tamasese. Faumuina, Tuim alealiifano, and Vele.

As the column drew near the Court House, a party of European police ap peared and walked beside them until they reached the Government building. Here one of the policemen suddenly stepped into the midst of the column and seized the wanted man. A scuffle immediately followed and blows were exchanged. The European policeman lost his footing and fell. Very likely thinking that he was in danger of losing his life, his fellow-police men drew their revolvers and commenced firing into the crowd. At this stage eighteen more policemen appeared on the scene and also commenced firing.

By this time the Samoans were retali ating by throwing stones. When their revolvers were empty the police retreated along a side-alley to the Police Station, leaving one of their number behind, dead.

Meanwhile, High Chief Tamasese stood at the corner of the Court House, his hands held aloft as he turned around in all directions repeating aloud: “Samoans, please keep the peace!”

His request was gradually being carried into effect when there came the report of a single shot, and he crumpled to the

ground. As a number of Samoans were turning to his assistance a burst of machine-gun flre brought them to the ground in one heap, and for a minute or more a steady firing of rifles was maintained from other directions.

Eye-witnesses who approached the scene of the massacre after the firing stopped have stated that the street was covered with pools of blood which the police were attempting to wash away with hoses. High Chief Faumuina, though grazed across the loins, calmly reorganised the' procession and led the column off in the direction of the wharf where Mr.

Smyth was to land. Following at their rear were 25 fully-armed NZ policemen, one carrying a Lewis machine-gun.

That evening, as Tamasese lay dying in the hospital, he issued a manifesto

addressed to all Samoans, “My blood has been spilt for Samoa, and I am proud to give it. Do not think of revenge, for it was spilt in keeping the peace. If I die, peace must be kept at any price.”

In the early hours of the morning he was removed to his own village wnere he died shortly after 8 a.m.

In all, 11 Samoans, including two High Chiefs, had been killed, and sixteen had been seriously wounded. European cas ualties, one killed, rpHE dead were scarcely in their graves X before persecutions were resumed, All the Samoans were ordered to de part at once for their own villages; High Chief Tuimalealiifano and 50 others were ordered to appear at Mulinuu. The “Mau” was declared a seditious organisa

tion and the cruiser “Dunedin” was despatched to Apia from New Zealand.

Chief Justice Luxford who conducted

the inquest into the eleven deaths found that the measures resorted to had been proper, and that the use of firearms

against the Samoans was justified.

Meanwhile the “Mau” had taken to the bush. The Marines, on arriving, raided the villages and dragged in small parties of captives.

In New Zealand the New Zealand Sea men’s Union protested against the send ing of “black and tans” to “terrorise the Samoans by force of arms”, and declared that the members of the Union would re fuse to man any ships conveying military police to the islands. In due course, the Samoans were allowed to return to their villages and the fiasco was regarded as a triumph for the Government.

A PERIOD of three years then elapsed during which the “Mau” remained quiet. But in May, 1933, Mr. Nelson returned to Apia, and after nine months he was arrested again for being implicated in “Mau” activities, and in March, 1934, was sentenced to eight months’ imprison ment and ten years’ exile.

In November, 1935, the Labour Party came into office in New Zealand and in June of the following year a Ministerial party arrived in Samoa. Soon after a de claration was made which revoked the law that had made the “Mau” a seditious organisation. Regulations restricting in ter-village and inter-island travel were also repealed.

The number of Samoan Legislative Councillors was increased from two to four, a Samoan Associate Judge was ap pointed, and when Nelson and his three daughters returned to Apia in the follow ing month they came as guests of the Government. Thus ended the most far cical periods of misrule in Samoa in modern times.

The period between 1936 and the entry of Japan into the war was comparatively uneventful in Western Samoa, rE arrival of the US forces in 1942 was an event of importance to the Samoans. The construction of an airport was commenced at the western end of the island of Upolu in March, and the Samoans for the first time witnessed something of the might of modem air power.

The presence of a large number of troops, the employment thus made avail able, and the large amount of money cir culated, had an immediate effect on the economy of the Territory. The US Marines became the great friends of the natives, and because of their generous manner in spending, their carefree and friendly ways, they made a deep impres sion on them.

After the departure of the Americans it became difficult to employ Samoans in continuous plantation work, they having then had experience of employment under easy conditions. Even normally a Samoan is always inclined to work only when cash is required.

In the meantime the new Government has done much for Samoa in respect to education, health and public works.

Whereas formerly it was the native who had to try to understand the white man, it would seem that a change of attitude has taken place in more recent times, and an honest effort is now being made to understand the Samoans. rE Samoans more than any of the other Polynesian races, have retained many of their ancestral customs.

Outwardly friendly and unoffensive, it is hard to believe that they have ever been warlike. They are endowed with a tem perament that finds the greatest amount of happiness in the most trifling things.

There is always work to be done in Samoan village and everyone is ex pected to do his share according to age and capacity. There is always an abund ance of food, and though the traders have placed their stores in the middle of the villages, European commidities are

still regarded more in the nature of a luxury rather than a necessity.

On certain days the men attend to their plantations on the mountainside, and on other days they go fishing. The old men usually congregate in the council house where they discuss matters per taining to the welfare of the village and exchange the latest gossip while drinking “kava”. The women attend to the weav ing of mats and baskets, the making of tapa-cloth, and other household duties.

The children attend the pastor’s school.

Later in the day, the fowls and pigs are fed with scraped coconut kernel. The girls cut the grass about the house and tidy up the yard while others prepare the evening cocoa bv pounding a quantity of dry cocoa-beans in a wooden bowl, AS the sun approaches the western horizon all the world becomes a blaze of crimson. The sea, the sky, the leaning palms and the sandy beach take on a fantastic hue.

Presently the sun sinks beyond the horizon and twilight descends over the village. The lamps are lit and soon there is heard the hollow sound of a wooden bell announcing the time for evening prayers. The children hasten indoors and presently the singing of hymns can be heard in every house.

After prayers, an appetising smell fills the air as the oven stones are removed and the baked food is carried in by the young men and women of the family.

Food mats are brought down from the shelves and upon these the food is spread, the old men of the family being served first.

After the meal there is little to do.

The old men lean back against the posts of the house, smoking and talking while the women put the children to sleep. The women then join the men in conversation, discussing the progress of their weaving

or the pending marriage of a relative. If it is a moonlight night the boys and girls go out to play on the village green or on the road; or they may go down to the beach where they will sing and dance.

The dark palms silhouetted against the tropical night, the fragrant breeze, the lights in the village, the rhythm of the dancing and singing—all these are part of native life.

When the hour grows late the children are summoned back to their homes. The sleeping mats are spread out and the lamps turned low. Should the tide be favourable there will be seen the flickering lights of torches out in the lagoon where the canoes of the fishermen will drift about till dawn when they will return with fresh fish for the coming day.

If there is a courting party in the house of the “taupau” (chief’s daughter) there will be dancing and singing until the hour grows late. Then will the story teller tell strange tales of mythical per sonalities who inhabited the mountains and valleys of the islands long, long ago.