Conflict on order to deport Samoan .

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32460, 21 November 1970, Page 18

Conflict on order to deport Samoan .

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 20. Possibly the Minister of : Internal Affairs in ordering |the deportation of a Samoan as an alien had overlooked what his colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was doing in introducing in Parliament a bill to make Western Samoans British subjects, said the Chief Justice (Sir Richard Wild) in the Supreme Court today. Sio Enelikeo Lisa, aged 28. who appeared for sentence on October 30 on a charge of assault with intent to commit rape, appeared again today in accordance with a court order. "You are a Sampan and the Court recommended under the Aliens Act that you be deported instead of sentenced,” His Honour told Lisa. “You were remanded until today by which time the Court required to be informed of the Minister’s decision on that recommendation. “The registrar has received i a letter from the Minister i of Internal Affairs saying he •has decided to deport you'

and a further letter intimating that arrangements for your deportation next Tuesday have been made." “The bill includes a clause , to the effect that citizens of Western Samoa shall be deemed to have had the status of British subjects as 1 i from August 25, “If the bill is passed jt means you will not have- I been an alien. Then you could not be deported under the Aliens'Act “I understand it is expected the bill will become • law next Wednesday in which case you would not have been an alien at the time of your deportation on Tuesday,’’ said'his Honour.' . “The right hand of the' Government would have been, acting in ignorance of what the left hand of the Govern-\ ' ment was doing and the proper course is to invite the Minister of Internal Affairs to reconsider the matter and. . I will ask the Crown prosecutor to request that this be done as a matter of' ' urgency." His Honour remanded Lisa in custody until December 11 subject to the condition that if in the meantime the Minister made the order he said he was going to make, the prisoner could be delivered for deportation in accordance with that order.