It is simply because this is, after all, a debate and not a tribal indaba.
He quoted indabas of chiefs and all sorts of things in support of the argument.
An indaba was held, and was attended by the chiefs and headmen who were informed of the pending change.
Smith pressed on, telling parliament that he would ask the tribal chiefs and headmen to consult their people in the traditional manner, then hold the "indaba" as planned.
Rudd's interpretation was that the king considered them to have already been consulted at the day's "indaba", and so did not think it necessary for them to also sign.
