SAMOA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19104, 13 September 1927, Page 8

SAMOA.

MR NELSON TO GIVE EVIDENCE. THE ROYAL COMMISSION. [TKE PBSSB Special Service] AUCKLAND, September 12. In spite of his previous decision, Mr O. F. Nelson stated to-day that he had decided to leave for Samoa next Friday to give evidence before tho Royal Commission. Mr Nelson intends to leave by the Marama for Sydney, where he will connect with the Sierra for Samoa, arriving there about a week after the Commission. Mr Nelson said his previous decision to hold aloof entirely from the proceedings of the Commission had been made at the instance of his counsel, Sir John Findlay, of Wellington. own opinion had been that although the order of reference was not comprehensive enough from the viewpoint of the Citizens' Committee, he should not refuse to give evidence before the Commission. He had been dissuaded from this view by his counsel, but as a result of repeated representations during the past few days Sir John Findlay had now agreed that tho interests of the Samoan people would be served best by Mr Nelson proceeding to Samoa. Be had, therefore, decided to assist in tho preparation of their case, and to give evidence himself, lhe New Zealand Government had promised that time would be given for the Citizens' Committee to prepare its case, and there would no doubt be time enough for this after his arrival in Samoa. . "Since the announcement of the personnel and order of reference last Monday night, I have by telegraph kept closely in touch with the Prime Minister through my counsel," Mr Nelson said. "Last Wednesday Sir John Findlay advised me to instruct him to notify the Prime Minister that petitioners would neither appear nor be represented before the Commission. J disagreed with this, being satisfied to make the best of the Royal Commission, and feeling confident that the unequal terms offered would only help us to establish our case all the more. 1 asked Sir John Find Jay not to give any undertaking to the Prime Minister, saying that I would go with the R&yal Commission and be guided by envelopments. ~, , , _,. ~ "I also advised Sir John Findlay that if the Royal Commission stayed at Government House, Vaihma, 1 doubted whether the Citizens' Committee would attend its sittings under any consideration. Sir John replied that unless I accepted his advice he would be unable to advise me oh a further course of action. 1 had no alternative but to submit, but kept on making representations to my counsel to reconsider the matter, as I still thought 1 should go to Samoa, and instruct the Citizens' Committee meanwhile to prepare the case for presentation to tho Royal Commission "I wrote Sir John Findlay long letters last Saturday and Sunday practically stating that I had decided to leave* for Samoa, i also .telegraphed him this morning that the Marama, leaving here for Sydney next Friday, would connect with the Sierra, leaving theie on September 24th. and landing mo in Samoa about one week after the Royal Commission. At 1.30 p.m. today I received the. following telegram in reply:— Received your telegram this morning, and letters of Saturday and Sunday. In view of accusations against you in the Prime Minister's last letter, delivered on Saturday afterndon, of lack of sincerity in the grounds urged for the adjournment, 1 advise you to wireless the Citizens' Committee to apply to the Commission on arrival at Samoa for adjournment, and to support the application with all the grounds which show the impossibility of the petitioners' proceeding with their case without reasonable time for preparation. Although the Government has practically refused to provide such time, the Commission has full power to adjourn, notwithstanding what has happened. In the hope of a reasonable adjournment being granted, 1 advise you to proceed to Samoa by the Sierra, and take the risk of molestation by the Administrator, and make the best of the restricted order of reference. FINDLAY. "To say that I have retreated or forsaken the cause of the people of Samoa is incorrect and unkind," Mr Nelson added. "As the Prime Minister has at least promised that the Royal Commission will allow a few days if necessary for the Citizens' Committee to prepare its case, I should arrive in Samoa in good time. We shall have to fight our case against great odds, and unequal terms, but I have every confidence' in the justice of our cause to establish by evidence every statement we have made, and all the grievances of the Samoan people, as far as these iie within the scope of the Roval Commission to enquire into them."