SAMOAN COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19743, 16 September 1927, Page 12

SAMOAN COMMISSION.

FIRST SITTINGS FIXED. THE IMPRISONED CHIEFS. GOVERNMENT REFUSES RELEASE FACILITIES FOR EVIDENCE. The first sitting of the Samoan Royal Commission has been convened by publicnotice for Saturday week, September 24, according tr a wireless message received from Apia yesterday by the Hon 0. F. Nelson The taking of evidence, the message says will begin at once, and the commissioners, it is hoped, will leave for New Zealand by the Tofua on October 21. Commenting on the message, Mx. Nelson said he did not see how the inquiry coaid be carried through in the time mentioned, since his own evidence before the Select Committee in Wellington alone had occupied eleven days. What the Government proposed to do about the adjourned t'ailiament-ary inquiry he did not yet know bu; if the committee made no report, and the evidence were not laid before Parliament, it would mean the bearing before the commission would be lengthened very much indeed. Mr Nelson said be was stall in communication with the Government, through his counsel, Sir John Findlay, about a number of matters He had just received a telegram stating that while the imprisoned chiefs could not be released, as had been asked, reasonable facilities would be given to enable them to attend before the commission to give evidence. Regarding the chiefs wbo had been banished to villages other than their own, no agreement had been reached, said Mr Nelson He did not know tho exact number oi men in both olasses, but it should by uow be several dozen. The banished chiefs were scattered far and wide, which added to the committee's difficulties ai presenting its case. The early sittings of the commission gave little time toi the Citizens' Committee to prepare its case, but if the evidence on uehaii oi tho administration were taken first and occupied many days, that would give some relief. Mr. Nelson will leave loi Sydney today, and will go on to Samoa by the Sierra, arriving about a week after the commissioners. He will meet Mr. Smyth, anothei membei of the Citizens' Commit tee, in Sydney, aud possibly Mr Smyth | will go back to Samoa with him If the commission sits after its return to New Zealand, Mr Nelson will accompany it and probably Sir John Findlay will appear as counsel for the committee in place of Messrs. Slipper and Baxter, who will appear at the Apia sittings.