TRIAL OF O. F. NELSON

Northern Advocate, 22 March 1934, Page 6

TRIAL OF O. F. NELSON

LASTED THIRTY-ONE DAYS. THE FINAL STAGE. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) I APIA, March 13. | The trial of O. F. Nelson was the longest in the somewhat turbulent history of .Samoa and lasted 31 days. When the addresses were made to the Court towards the end of the longdrawn legal struggle the court building was crowded. There were a largo mi ml ter of native high elf&fs and Mau leaders, and touch of colour was given by the lavalavas worn by the members of the Mau women’s committee. Mr Nelson’s live daughters had followed the trial closely; one of them was the stenographer for the Court. Mr Nelson was a sick man, but he stood the long trial well to the end, but at times showed signs of nervous f eusion. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr McCarthy, said that the accused' had not called any witnesses on his own behalf and for the defence. All the relevant facts had been placed from the Court. The evidence before the Royal Commission in 1927 showed that at that time there existed no hostile feeling against the Administration among the .Samoans. After the departure of the Royal Commission and the deportation of Nelson to New Zealand, General Richardson considered Nelson to be the head of the Man. Prior to the return of Nelson from banishment, he received a friendly letter from the Hon. G. W. Forbes, then Minister of External Affairs, stating that without agitation no trouble should arise in Samoa, but- that in ease of any breach of the law the Government would not. hesitate to take energetic steps to maintain law and order. After Nelson’s return,- three friendly warnings were given, but no heed was paid to them. in conclusion, the Crown Prosecutor said that the net result of the j trial could be summed up as follows: —(1) To substantiate the finding of the Royal Commission that Nelson was the head of the Mau; (2) that the deportation of Nelson in 1952 was justified; (3) that Nelson was not only head of the Mau then, but continued to act as such, and .today was still head of the Mau. British, Justice. Addressing ,the Court, accrued said he had been pointed out as author and instigator of all the Samoan troubles, fostering dissatisfaction with the New Zealand Administration. The conditions prevailing for many years and the policies followed, no British white community would tolerate. The fundamental basis of British justice as well as the public’s sense of right and wrong were violated. The Europeans demanded changes in Government formerly, which the -Samoans asked for later on. Accused traversed the evidence at groat length and said discontent was rife when the New Zealand Parliamentary party visited Samoa in 1920. The annual reports of the Mandated Territory had stated that the Government’s policy was to keep Samoa for the Samoans and blend the best features of British law with Samoan customs. The authority i given to the fiapule by General Richardson was used by them for personal aggrandisement. A large section of the Europeans sympathised with the Samoans and the Mau. Judge Luxford: “There is nothing wrong with Europeans sympathising with Samoans generally.” Accused: “The Samoans arc the Mau.” Proceeding, he said that his consistent policy was to keep the peace and avoid disorderliness. He had been accused of high treason and rebellion since the beginning of the trouble, but striving for self-govern-| ment was not rebellion. Judge Luxford: “Samoans arc at present not ready for self-govern-ment, and agitation for self-govern-ment is therefore illegal.” Accused: “It is a matter of opinon, whether Samoans are ready or not.” J

Men in Ireland who were formerly considered rebels and condemned to death wore now leaders of the nation. As reported earlier, Nelson was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment and exiled for ten years.