THE SAMOA INQUIRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20203, 14 September 1927, Page 6

THE SAMOA INQUIRY.

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. THE MAU FUND. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, September 5. Mr Wilford, in the House to-day, drew the attention of the Prime Munster to an article on Samoa, sent from Auckland and printed in the Morning Post. The Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates) said that the article had been trenchantly dealt with by the High Commissioner in London. “ 1 am glad the honourable member has brought the matter up." added the Prime Minister, “ as the article is net a correct resume of the position as it existed then or ns it exists at present. The Leader of (he Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the desirability of the evidence taken by the Joint Committee of both Houses being made available to the Royal Commission, he would take steps to ensure that the committee would report to the House in order that the evidence might reach the commission in a constitutional way. The Prime Minister was further asked whether he would make a full statement as to what had been done in connection with the evidence in the meantime, and whether, in view of the fact that heavy expenses would be involved in the presentation of evidence to the Royal Commission by the Samoans, he would give instructions to have recalled the order forbidding natives to contribute to the Man Fund, which was being utilised to defray the expenses mentioned. The Prime Minister renlied that ho would intimate to-morrow or the next rHv the Government's attitude in connection with the evidence referred to. The question of the Mau Fund was a matter that was in the hands of the Administrator, and whether information could be obtained he was unable to say.