SAMOAN INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 296, 13 September 1927, Page 10

SAMOAN INQUIRY

HON. 0. F. NELSON REVERSES DECISION WILL NOW GIVE EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION CONFIDENT IN JUSTICE OF CAUSE Contrary to his previously announced decision, the Hon. O. F. Nelson has now decided to proceed to Samoa in order to give evidence before the Royal Commission. In this decision Mr. Nelson’s counsel (Sir John Findlay) concurs. Dominion Special Service. Auckland, September 12. In spite of his previous decision, the Hon. O. F. Nelson stated to-day that he had decided to leave for Samoa next Friday to give evidence before the Roval 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 members of the Commission.

Mr. Nelson said his previous decision to hold aloof entirely from the proceedings of the Commission Lad been made at the instance of his counsel (Sir John Findlay, of M el■lington) .His own opinion had been that although the order, of reference was not comprehensive enough from the viewpoint of the Citizens’ Committee, lie should nto cfuse to give evidence before the Commission. He bad been dissuaded from this view by his counsel, but as

a result of repeated representations during the past few davs Sir John Findlay had now agreed that the interests of the Samoan people would be served best bv Mr. Nelson proceeding to Samoa. He had therefore decided to assist in the preparation of their case and to give evidence himself. The 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. Client and Counsel. "Since the announcement of the personnel and the 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 the petitioners would neither appear or be represented before the Commission. I 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. I asked Sir John Findlay not to give any undertaking to the Prime Minister, but that I would go with the Royal Commission and be guided by developments. I also advised Sir John Findlay that if the Roval Commission staved at Government House, at Vailima, 'I 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 on a further course of action. I had no alternative but to submit, but kept on making representations to my counsel to reconsider the matter, as I still thought F should go to Samoa and instruct the Citizens’ Committee meanwhile to prepare the case for presentation to .the Roval Commission. "I wrote Sir John Findlay long letters last Saturday and Sunday, practically stating that I had decided to leave for Samoa; T also telegraphed him this morning that the Marama, leaving here for Svdnev next Friday,would connect with the Sierra leaving there on September 24, and landing me 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. Tn view of accusations against vou .n the Prime Minister’s last letter delivered Saturdiv afternoon of lack of sincerity in grounds urged for adjournment, advise vou to wireless Citizens Committee to apply to Commission on arrival at Samoa for adjournment and support application with all the grounds which show impossibility *of petitioners proceeding with their case without reasonable time for preparation. , Although Government has practically refused to provide such time, Commission has full power to adjourn. Notwithstanding what has happened, in hope of reasonable adjournment being granted advise you proceed to Samoa bv Sierra and take risk of molestation’' bv Administrator and make best of restricted order paper of reference.— Findlay. “Incorrect and Unkind.” "To sav that I have retreated or forsaken the cause of the people of Samoa is incorrect and unkind,” Air. Nelson added. "As the Prime Minister Jias at least promised that the Roval Commission will allow a few days if tieces sary for the Citizens’ Committee to prepare its case' I should arrive in Samoa in good timq. We shall have to fight our case against .great odds and unequal terms, but T have every confidence in the justice of our cause i to establish by evidence every state- ' nient we have made and all the grievances of the Samoan people as far as it lies in the scope of the Royal Commission to inquire into them.” IF MR. NELSON PERSISTED INOUIRY WOULD HAVE PROCEEDED. Prior to the receipt of the announcement regarding the Hon. O. F. Nelson’s decision to proceed after all to Samoa to give evidence before the Commission, his original decision to boycott the inquiry was referred to by the Prime Minister yesterday. "The Commission will proceed with its inquiries,” said Air. Coates. "The withdrawal of Air. Nelson and ms-as-sociates does not make the slightest bit of difference so tar as that point is concerned.”