EXILED FROM SAMOA

Northern Advocate, 14 September 1932, Page 6

EXILED FROM SAMOA

TEEM EXPIRING. RETURN DISCUSSED. “ASSURANCES” WANTED. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. Nearly five years ago the Administrator of Western Samoa deported the lion. O. F. Nelson and Messrs. Gurr and Smyth, the two first-named for five ’ years, and Mr. Smyth for two years. Mr. Smyth returned' to Apia on December 28, 1929. The period of banishment of Messrs. Nelson and Gurr will expire next December. It is stated that\the leaders of the Man in Samoa have advised Messrs. Nelson and Gurr not to return to Samoa until a certain “assurance” has boon given by the New Zealand Government. On August .°.l the Man chiefs sent a long letter 1o the Administrator, Brigadier-General H. E. Hart. In this they first refer to the “grave matters at issue between mandatory Governments and the Samoans,” and declare that they will “ever continue passively to resist, with all the constitutional and peaceful means available to us, that vicious system whereby-laws are promulgated which - permit of arbitrary banishment, degradation, deportation, imprisonment and persecution of our own • people, and the permanent citizens of our country, by a foreign authority, without the least semblance of a judicial trial.”

The Man chiefs then remind the Administrator that it was on the occasion of the return to Apia of Mr. Smyth that a fatal clash occurred on December 28, 1929. On the return of Messrs. Nelson and Gurr, the Mau jn-oposes to give them a welcome and reception. The Mau further proposes that Mr, Nelson should meet the Samoans and speak freely to them. “We wish to be assured that no restriction will be jdaced on ns, or on him, to bring into etfoct what we claim we have a right to demand, also that the Government will not bring any action against Taisi or anything he might have said, written or done in New Zealand or elsewhere; or in his communications to us or others, in regard to his activities abroad on our behalf; or in regard to anything he may have to say to us here about his work when he meets us.

“Your Excellency is respectfully requested to say ‘Yes’ or 'No’ to this, our reasonable request.” It should be remarked that parts of the lon# letter, here summarised, are couched in provocative language, although the signatures end “with the proper regard and deference due to Your Excellency.”

The Administrator, on September 7, in a letter to Faumuina Fiame, the first of the six signatories of the letter, replies as follows:—“Dear Sir, —I am in receipt of the letter from you and others dated the .‘list of August. The events referred to by you will bo considered and disposed of at the proper time and place, as and when they occur. Yours faithfully, H. E. Hart, Administrator.’’

It is understood that the Man interprets this reply as an indication that any demonstration of to Messrs. Nelson and G'urr would be regarded as undesirable and would be supptessed.