SAMOA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19115, 26 September 1927, Page 8

SAMOA.

THE ENQUIRY OPENS.

ADJOURNMENT REFUSED

(press association.— by -wibeless.)

APIA, September 24,

The Samoa Commission of Enquiry held its initial sitting to-day. Mr V. E.' Meredith, instructed by the New Zealand Government, appeared for the Administration, with Mr McCarthy, Crown Solicitor, and Mr Klinkmueller, assistant Consul, Messrs Baxter and Slipper, local lawyers, appeared for the Citizens' Committee and the Samoans associated with it. •, Mr Baxter intimated that no attack was being made on the personal characters of any officials. His clients' objections were to interference by the Administration. in the copra trade, to excessive expenditure by the Medical Department, to repressive actions against the Mau movements, to certain actions by the Legislative Council, to excess of authority by officials, and to the banishment of chiefs, with removal " titles.

His application that banished chiefs be temporarily repatriated, and allowed to remain in Apia while the Commission continued, was granted only tentatively. The 'Chief Justice intimated that if they were material witnesses, doubtless the Administration would extend leave for a period, but if they were .immaterial their presence in Apia would only tend to degrade the Commission in the eyes of the natives. An application for the adjournment of the Commission to allow the petitioners tp prepare briefs of evidence was not granted. Sir Charles Skerrett said he recognised the difficulties of counsel' owing to circumstances beyond their control, but at the same time it was known that the Citizens' Committee's case' had been prepared a year or so, as instanced by Mr Nelson in his statements in the public Press. He would meet counsel's needs wherever possible, but the sittings must resume on Monday, morning. In these days the old-time long brief had disappeared, and counsel carried briefs in their heads. The absence of briefs should prove a benefit and not a detriment to the citizens' counsel, who should formulate specific charges and place them before the Commission. But there was no immediate hurry for them.