THE DEPORTATIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 93, 30 January 1928, Page 7

THE DEPORTATIONS

PREMIER AND MR HOLLAND. THE COMMISSION'S FINDINGS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 27. When shown a Press) Association message from Westport conveying some additional remarks by Mr H. E. Holland with reference to Samoa, the Prime Minister this morning made it clear that he was not responsible for the statement regarding American Samoa, to which Mr Holland's remarks were apparently a reply, and that some misunderstanding had obviously occurred.

"Since my attention has been drawn to the matter, however," slaid Mr Coates, "I have had an opportunity of perusing the official publication issued by the Administration of American Samoa, and have been interested to observe the extension of the activities of the Mau to American Samoa>. I can quite understand that Mr Holland feels some explanation to be necessary, as to why discontent should have arisen amongst that portion of the Samoan oeople who have not been subjected to the alleged acts 1 of maladministration which Mr Holland, despite the findings of the Commission, persists in attributing to our own administration. I do not propose to explain why American Samoa should be involved. I think the public are quite competent to draw their own conclusions. "It had not been my intention to comment upon Mr Holland's reply to my statement on the Samoan position but *3 circumstances have necessitated my making this statement, 'I feel it desirable to refer incidentally to one or two of the remarks made by the Leader of the Opposition. In the, first place, insofar as Mr Holland continues to charge the Administration vyith improper methods, with banishing chiefs without cause, with unconstitutional action, and with an unjustifiable 'big stick' policy, I feel it necessary only to refer once again to the findings of the Commission. All these matters were within the scope of the Commission's inquiries, and, as I have said before, there never could haye been a more complete vindication of any administration than is contained in the Commission's report. Mr Holland must surely either admit this qr declare himself openly to be unwilling to recognise either the competence or bona fides of members of the Commission. "Mr Holland refers to the 'real reasons' of the trouble, and mentions two specific instances. He first refers to the appointment and functions of the Fairpules. This again is a matter specifically within the scope of the Commission's inquiries. It was most carefully inquired into at great length, and the report upholds the action of the Administration in every way. I confess I am somewhat at a loss to understand the second 'reason' given by the Leader of the Opposition—'Flagrant dishonouring of promises made by the New Zealand 'Government.' Insofar as he refers to the proposal thai. Sampans should be given representation on the Legislative Council, I must again refer to the express desire of the Fono of Faipules, representing the native race, that no such step be taken. I have no knowledge of any promise to the Samoans that has been broken, flagrantly or otherwise, and I say unhesitatingly that. there are no grounds whatever for such a suggestion.

"Mr Holland refers at some length in both his statements, to the fact that he personally is not yet in receipt of a copy of the Commission's report. In this connection I may say that despite the utmost efforts, it hag not yet beem possible for the printing office to complete this document. The evidence is exceedingly voluminous, and has necessitated a very large amount of work. It is hoped that a. complete document will be available in about a week's time. In order, however, to enable the country to have the earliest and most reliable information as to the actual findings of the Commission, a small number of copies of the report itself, omitting the appendices and evidence, were hurriedly run off, and were supplied for publication to the Press of

New Zealand, though no copy has as yet been supplied directly to any membr of Parliament. Arrangements will be made as soon as the full report is ready to see that each member receives a copy, and in the meantime I find it impossible to understand how any person in New Zealand, who is interested in the matter, can complain that he has not had an opportunity of ascertaining the contents of the actual report. "Mr Holland refers to 'dishonouring' of the Government's promise to lay the report on the table of the House. The promise that we made has not been dishonoured. It was administratively impossible to lay the report on the table during last session. - It has not been found possible to print it even yet, and the necessary action has been taken in order that Parliament may early in the session have for its information the documents referred to."