SAMOAN COMMISSION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 September 1927, Page 5

SAMOAN COMMISSION.

INITIAL SITTING. FORMAL BUSINESS DEALT WITH. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. APIA, Sept. 24. The initial sitting of the Samoan Commission was held to-day. Mr. Meredith instructed in ttie Dominion, appeared for the Administration, with Mr McCarthy, Crown Solicitor, and Mr. Klinkinueller assistant counsel. Messrs Baxter and Slipper, local lawyers, appcared for the Citizens’ Committee and the Samoans associated therewith. Mr Baxter intimated that no attack was being made, on the personal characters of any officials. The objections were to the inference of the Administration in the copra trade, prohibition, the excessive expenditure of the Medical Department, repressive actions against the Man movements, Legislative Council doings, excess of authority bv the officials, the banishment of chiefs, the removal of titles and native affairs generally. An application that the banished c-hiefs, temporarily repatriated, be allowed to remain in Apia while the cbmmission continues was granted, but only tentatively.

The Chief Justice intimated that if they were material witnesses, doubtless the Administration would extend the leave period, but if they were immaterial their presence in Apia would only tend to degrade the commission in the eves of the natives.

An application for tne adjournment of the commission to allow the petitioners to prepare briefs of evidence was not granted. Sir €. P. Skerrett recognised the difficulties of counsel owing to circumstances beyond their control. At the same time it ifas known that the Citizens’ Committee case had been prepared a year or so, as - instanced by the Hon. O. F. Nelson in public and in the papers. The commission would meet counsels’ needs wherever possible, but the sittings must resume on Monday morning. In these days the old-time long brief had disappeared and counsel carried tne briefs in their heads. The absence of briefs should prove a benefit and not a detriment to the Citizens ’ Committee. Counsel should formulate specific charges and place them before the .commission, but there was no immediate hurry for such a course.