SAMOAN SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 298, 15 September 1927, Page 8

SAMOAN SITUATION

the MINISTERS “WHO'S WHO” .!, AVAILABILITY OF EVIDENCE GOVERNMENT ACTION i Further references io Samoa were made in Parliament yes. terday. Both in the House of Representatives and Legislative Council the Government gave notice to move for the suspension of Standing Orders to enable the Royal Commission to be supplied with the evidence placed before the joint committee on the Samoan petition, and in the House the Minister of External Affairs answered questions concerning the accuracy of some statements made earlier in the session. Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East) asked the Minister of External Affairs if he had seen a newspaper report concerning a cablegram which the Hon. O. I'. Nelson had received from the Citizens’ Committee in Samoa. Mr. Lee read the report, the tenor of which was that the Governor of American Samoa had denied the accuracy of several statements which the Minister made when he published a “Who’s Who in Samoa” during the course of the debate on the Samoan Amendment Bill in the early davs of the session. The Hon. W. Nosworthy said the statement that E. W. Gurr was dismissed from office by the United States Administration in American Samoa was taken from an official document dated “Government House, Naval Station, Tutuila, American Samoa, October 1, 1926, by Governor 11. F. Bryan.” this document stated that Mr. Gurr was dismissed in 1908 for malfeasance in office. Mr. Nosworthy added that during his tecent visit to American Samoa Governor Brvan had told him that. Mr. Gurr’s re-entry to American Samoa would be prohibited. He (the Minister) had never on any occasion said that Mr Gurr was deported from American Samoa. ; Regarding the reported denial of the American Governor that Afamasaga, now known as Lago Lago, was not a prohibited immigrant to Pago Pago, Mr-. Nosworthy said that the Administrator of Samoa was advised in writing by the American Governor some years ago that this man would not be permitted to return to American Samoa should he at any time wish to do so. “In spite of the fact that the American Governor is now reported as stating that the native chiefs were punished for conspiring to kill other chiefs and not for participating in P 01 '.,’., troubles.” the Minister continued, the official document of the American Government which has been mentioned describes the trouble that arose in American Samoa in 1920 as political .unrest and the chiefs as being disloyal nt that they had established a so-called committee with headquarters in Pago lago through which they planned to run the Government. Also the ‘O Le Fa’atonu of March, 1925, .which is described ill the Press report as the official organ of the United States Government m Samoa, reports that on March 9 these •political prisoners’ were pardoned. It is therefore impossible to reconcile the latest Press statement with the official records of the United States Government.” Utilising the Evidence. Notice was given by the Prime Minister of bis intention to move the suspension of Standing Order 237 to permit of the Roval Commission winch has proceeded to Samoa being supplied with a printed copy of the evidence and counsels’ addresses given before the joint committee of both Houses which inquired into the petition presented from Samoa. Mr. Coates said the copy would be for the confidential use of the commission. ~ , “Is it not a fact that the evidence has already been sent to Samoa?” asked the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland). , , Mr. Coates: Yes, a copy has been Sei Mr. Holland: There has been no reP °Mr Coates: No, but a copy has been sent under the charge of an officer detailed for the purpose. He has been instructed that the envelope containing tiie copy Ts not to be interfered with in any wav or the seal broken until he has been advised to do so. Air Holland: And that officer is the secretary of the. External Affairs Departmenc^ate S: jj evcr m ind who the ° f Mr r *E. J- Howard (Christchurch South) : Is that action in accordance with the rules and forms of the House ? Mr. Coates: That is quite all-right. It is for the House to say. Notice of a similar motion was given in the Legislative Council by the Right Hon. Sir Francis Bell.