The radio programme, narrated and produced by Tony Simpson, details the Mau movement and the origins of Samoan independence. [It appears to have been produced to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Samoan independence, in 1972. It contains several eye witness accounts of the confrontation in Apia on Saturday 28 December 1929, in which at least 8 people were killed. Few of the participants are identified in the recording]
Professor J.W. Davidson, an academic specialising in Samoan affairs, talks about the history of land alienation in Samoa which lead up to the Mau movement.
Tom Smith comments on the German colonial history of Samoa followed by an unidentified man with memories of the expeditionary force New Zealand sent to take Samoa at the outbreak of World War I.
The New Zealand administration took steps against the Chinese community and introduced prohibition, which were both very unpopular.
The influenza epidemic arrived in Samoa in November 1918, when a ship arrived in Apia from Auckland, with passengers on board already suffering from the disease. Professor Davidson explains just under 20 percent of the population died as a result.
An unidentified Samoan man explains the effects of the epidemic on the local people. He is a survivor of the epidemic and recalls as a boy burying the dead. Older men, including many matai, were hard-hit by the disease. Professor Davidson says only 7 members of the matai council were left after the epidemic.
An investigation found American Samoa's offer of help was not taken up and the New Zealand administration had handled the crisis badly. A letter from Sherwood Cordery, collector of customs is read, recalling the lifestyle of the colonial administration.
Professor Davidson comments on the Major General Richardson, the New Zealand administrator and his behaviour towards the Samoan people. An unidentified man is interviewed about his memories of Richardson's military attitude, which did not suit the Samoan people. He says Richardson also interfered with Samoan beliefs and culture, such as trying to abolish the customs around fine mats.
Both the copra planters and the Samoan people resented Richardson's behaviour. O.F. [Olaf] Nelson's daughter Carmel Myer talks about her father, who was regarded as a leader by both communities. He was a successful businessman, who took the title of Ta'isi] and later became an authority on Samoan genealogy.
Davidson comments on Nelson and Richardson and the struggle over modernisation in Samoa. An unidentified man comments about Richardson banning a meeting organised by European businesspeople and disgruntled Samoans. The meeting went ahead and the Mau movement was founded.
A campaign of civil disobedience began. An anti-administration newspaper was set up. Nelson was exiled to Auckland. Colonel Stephen Allan was appointed to replace Richardson.
An unidentified man recalls Allan's temperament and the introduction of military police which imposed further suffering on the Samoan people.
An unidentified former New Zealand policeman recalls groups of people wanted by the military police flouting the police who couldn't arrest them in a group as trouble would break out. He says if they went into the villages to arrest people, stones would be thrown at them. He says the Samoans knew all the police moves ahead of time, and dogs would alert them if the police were approaching the village, allowing suspects to escape.
He says in June 1929 he saw a man named Tagaloa who was wanted, in front of the Cathedral. They arrested him but he was assaulted in the process and his teeth were broken. They also arrested the man who assaulted the police, and he says this was the start of the offensive action by the police.
An unidentified man recalls the arrests in front of the Cathedral. He says the police attempted to arrest Tamasese but crowds prevented them.
A police officer was found beaten to death.
The unidentified policeman talks further about confrontations with Mau supporters, including the firing of a Lewis gun at the protestors. He says it was supposed to have fired over their heads but the support of the gun collapsed and the gun fired into the people.