Ta’isi’s sedition - guilty

Invincible Strangers 61 Chapter 28.1

‘I don’t think anything short of close and solitary confinement will stop Nelson’s writings, and even then any attempt in that direction would probably be frustrated,’ Hart said of Taisi’s return. There was still no thought by New Zealanders that greater self-government offered an alternative. In some ways, it already was. Ta’isi hosted a meeting of a Mau committee at his home at Tua’efu on 20 August 1933 where, according to the minutes, he presented a Mau flag. It was said to represent the ‘manuia of Sāmoa, the arm of victory’. The minutes recorded that a ten-man mission would inspect health and sanitary conditions. Commented Ta’isi: ‘The Mālō will one day wake up to find the Mau is running the country.’ 

On 8 November Braisby and five other armed policemen raided Tua’efu. They came with a Lewis gun.

‘What is your business?’ Ta’isi said as police walked into his upstairs office.