THE SAMOAN COMMISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 6

THE SAMOAN COMMISSION.

The doubt we expressed yesterday as to whether the order of reference of the Samoan Commission was wide enough has been justified by the Prime Minister's statement that the threatened deportation of Europeans is not included. The Commission is to consider the removal of Samoans from one place to another in Samoa, but not the threat to the whites. Tet it was this threat to deport some of the leading Europeans in Samoa without trial that provoked the strongest criticism in New Zealand. Mr. Coates takes the line that Parliament has dealt with this matter, and it is not competent for the Commission to review Parliament's decision. Constitutionally there may be much in Mr. Coates , contention, for Parliament is supreme. Surely, however, it is competent for a Commission to report on the results of legislation, and a result of this threat was to increase the danger of serious trouble arising in Samoa. The events that led up to this unjust step by the Government must come under the purview of the Commission, but the Commission will have to stop short of comment upon the final development. As the Leader of the Opposition said yesterday, Mr. Coates has made the position clear, but it is highly unsatisfactory.