THE PETITION FROM SAMOA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 27 July 1927, Page 2

THE PETITION FROM SAMOA

COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER IT WELLINGTON, 20th July. Winn the House of Itepreseutat'ives met to-dav the Minister of External Affairs (llu- lion. W. Noswnrthy) moved to set up .1 Select Committee |o consider the petition in regard to the administration of Samoa, the Committee to consist of nine members, as follows: Sir Apirama Ngata Mr G. \\. Eorbes, Mr A Hamilton, Mr F. V. Hockley. Mr E. J. Howard. Mr R. P. Lee. Mr J. Liuklater, and the mover. The Committee was set up accordingly. M'r N'osworthy I hen moved thai the

Committee have power In refer thepeti lion Id tlui Administrate.)-, if necessary

Tlie Leader of (he Opposition (Mr 11. Iv Holland) thought this motion should be objected to, because it was giving power to send the petition for report, h. the Administrator, whose administration was being petitioned igamsL

Sl'he. Prim.,- Minister .said thci prow iJ'im'c proposed conformed to wli.it w u l.lul down by the League of N iWms

Mr Holland i-aid tint flu-re would be no objection if evidence could be called from Samoa. lie wanted to be sure of thai,.

Mr VV. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) said he hoped there was no attempt to refer the petition to the Administrator instead of it being dealt with by tho House.

Mr Speaker pointed out, that. it was specially provided in (Ins motion llni! if the petition was referred to the Administrator, he should make his report 11). Ihe committee. Mr G. VV. Forbes (Hiirunui) thought it unusual to direct a, committee what it. should do. The committee should he allowed to choose its own course. The Crime .Minister said the resolution was necessary in order to confirm

strictly to the .Mandate. The petition must, be referred to the .Administrator for report. .Mr Holland: 'Have wo power to call lhe Administrator if we want him?"

Mr 11. 1.. Tiipley (Diinedin North) said ihe procedure seemed to be cumbersome. It. might be necessary to call a very large, number of people from Samoa to give evidence in New Zealand. It would be justifiable, for a Commission from the House to go to Samoa and handle the inquiry on (he spot. Tho matter could have, lieu managed by tiie .Minister of External .Affairs while hewas in Samoa. (Hear, hear.) Mr Speaker pointed out that it was too late for Mr Tuplov to make suen a suggestion, as the Committee was already set up. Mr Tapiey said he could only hope that, Hie Committee would see the wisdom of his attitude and suggest soma other procedure than that proposed. .Mr V. 11. Potter (Roskill) said that it must be decided by a majority of the Committee whether persons were called from Samoa to give evidence or not.

The motion was carried, witli the, addition of a third motion that the Committer should be able, to call for persons

PRIME MINISTER QUESTIONED

ABOUT DEPORTATIONS

Mr Lvsiiav asked the Prime -Minis-

(1) If it is true that one of the Samnans wiio made representation on behalf of the disaffected natives to the Hon. Mr Nosworthy, has since been deported? (2) How many disaffected natives of Samoa have been deported since clause 6 (lj of the Sanioan Immigration Consolidation Order has been amended

:•,> as to give power to the Administrator to order any person to leave Samoa without (rial? (3) According to the Minister of External Affairs" statemint in to-day's Press, the Administrator of Samoa has cancelled the licenses of two traders. Will the Prime Minister inform the 'House: (a) Under what authority are these licenses cancelled? Is it by a further Order-in-Council? (b) Whose trading licenses have been can celled?

The Prime Minister replied in the negative, but added that the Administrator had found i|, necessary acting on the advice of an impartial committee of chiefs to remove five of (be (Samoa!) members of he Citizens" Committee from Apia. The remaining Samoan member had been imprisoned after trial by the High Court. In reply to the second part of the question, Mr Coates said. "None." Proceeding, Mr Coato; said that trading licenses were cancelled under the authority of the Taxation. Licensing, and Revenue Amendment Ordnance, 1924, which provided that "where the Administrator is satisfied that the grantTng to any person of any new license, or lhe holding by any person of any existing license, may prejudicially affect the peace, order, or good government of the. territory, he may order that no such license shall be granted to that person, or that such existing license shall be cancelled.'' Mr Coates said that no official advice as to the cancellation of trading licenses had been received. In reply to tlie Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. W. Nosworthy stated that the Government had not received information from the Administrator of Samoa to the effect that n, number of time-expired labourers on the Government plantations had been arrested and apparently held without bail for refusing work.

THE HON. W. NOSWORTHY

COMPLAINS OF BEING MISRE PRESENTED

Tiie Minister of External Affairs (the Hon. \V. Nnsworlhy) said that several attempts had been made to misrepresent him by members of the Opposition, lie wanted to stale that lie had nothing whatever to apologise for when he went l<> Samoa. He had found that, a certain state, of affairs existed and he had advised the Government to take certain action. Acting on that advice the Government had decided .to follow a course of action whether the Opposition members like it oi' not.

"I have not tried lo misrepresent a single member of the House," said Mr Nosworthy, ''and 1 am sony (lie same, courtesy lias not, been extended to inc. 1 '