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Samoa Under the Sailing Gods

Appendix viii

page 300

Appendix viii

Letter to the Author from G. M. Ross, Trader, Salailua 24th September, 1927.

The Royal Commission has arrived in Apia I believe (by Tofua last Thursday) and is advertised to commence its sittings to-day (24th Sept.). Nelson is expected via Pango on 1st October. Smyth is due back by October trip of Tofua due in Apia on or about 20th October. I wonder if Smyth and Nelson will be allowed to land? Samoans from all parts have gone to Apia and it will mean practically no trade for a period of four weeks. Falelima and Neiafu passed through here last Wednesday. Salailua and district are going to Apia to-morrow (Sunday) or early next week. Despite the fact that Nelson has urged the Samoans to subscribe towards the funds of the Mau in order to pay legal and other expenses, I do not think much is coming in (about 6/– per head in this part altogether), yet the Missions have had record collections. Salailua donated over £25 towards the cost of a church in another part of Savaii. They gave generously towards the last Me (July). It is the same all over Samoa I believe. I have heard of numerous Mission affairs which required money. I believe that the White Missionaries are doing this on purpose. Needless to say, the Samoans are not paying their debts to the stores. The Salailua registered debt (Wesleyan Synod) which was registered in Apia before you left Samoa and which should have been paid on or before 31st March, 1926, has not been paid yet; there is a balance of over £20 still owing.

I am afraid that a mess will be made when the Royal Commission starts to take evidence. The Committee have not prepared their case, and really I doubt if there is anyone in Apia capable of getting the evidence together. Nelson is undoubtedly the brains of the Mau and Smyth is a good lieutenant. Apart from Mr. Gurr there is no one capable in Apia of doing any real good. They are all ready to cloud the real issue of grievances by bringing up trivial things and not hard facts.

When I was in Apia last month, word was received by radio page 301about the Royal Commission being appointed, yet nothing was done to organize and get ready the witnesses. I could have given the Committee a lot of valuable information but when I suggested it they said, "Well, go back to Savaii and write it all out for us." I gave Gurr some written facts, but if the Committee did not care to take my statements in Apia I was not going to waste time and energy writing out a lot of stuff for them. The Samoans and Europeans talk a lot of "bull" to the effect that Richardson and Co. must go, but they are doing nothing by way of preparation to bring that about. They may have got a move on lately but I doubt it. They remind me of a swarm of ants but with this exception, that whereas the ants know what they are doing and where they are going, this crowd here seems to be in a hopeless state of muddle. No doubt all the members of the Committee are sincere but that is about all that can be said about them.