WESTERN SAMOA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22353, 29 August 1934, Page 10

WESTERN SAMOA

ACTIVITIES OF THE MAU QUIESCENT DURING NELSON’S EXILE (From Our Parliamentary Kei’Oßtee.) WELLINGTON, August 28. “ Throughout the year the Administration functioned normally and smoothly, though this would not have continued if action against Mr Nelson had hot been taken,” states the annual report on the mandated territory of Western Samoa, which was presented in the House of Representatives this afternoon. The report states that the political situation at the beginning of last year .was perfectly quiet. .Since May, N lf*32, there had not /been any court proceedings or convictions for offences arising from political agitation. Mr O. F. Nelson, who, pursuant to an order made in December, 1927, was deported for a term of five years, returned in May, 1933. Immediately after this political agitation' was revived, It grew in strength until early in November, when two parties of Samoans undertook a tour of the territory to appoint Man officials, collect Man taxes, and, in fact, to set up a new form of government. “ Acting under a warrant issued by the court,” continues the report, “ a search was carried out at the residence of Mr Nelson. A large quantity of incriminating’ documents was found there, including a ‘Budget’ for the Man and a document styled ‘ The First Proclamation of the Man,” the latter providing for a constitution, the appointment of officials and their duties, and instructions for the two parties then setting Out to put these plans into operation. The 14 members of the two parties were arrested, tried, found guilty, and sentenced to terms of imprisonment varying from three weeks to one year. Mr Nelson was also arrested, and, after a trial lasting 32 days, was found guilty and sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment and 10 years’ exile. On March 8 he was sent to New Zealand to serve his sentence, and there was no further trouble. Throughout the year the Administration functioned normally and smoothly, though this would not have continued if action against Mr Nelson had not been taken.” .

A footnote to the report states that the High Court’s decision in Nelson’s case was sustained by the full Supreme Court in New Zealand, but the sentence was reduced to three weeks’ imprisonment and 10 years’ exile.