SAMOAN ADMINISTRATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16376, 25 June 1927, Page 6

SAMOAN ADMINISTRATION

AGITATION BY CITIZENS' COMMITTEE MR. NOSWORTHY REPLIED TO (Received June 25, 1 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 25. Mr. L. Stewart, manager of Nelson and Co., island traders, in reply to statements made by the Hon. Win. Nosworthy regarding (he Samoan administration, said that from Mr. Nosworthy's statements one would conclude, that sedition had occurred as a result of the agitation by the Citizens' Committee. The Administrator, he said, with the advice of the Legislative Council, could make laws, which were passed into force without the approval of the New Zealand Government, though the latter had power to veto any ordinance within one year. The Legislative Council is composed of official and unofficial members. At the present time the unofficial members are in a minority of one, and any proposal made by them which docs nut meet with the approval of the Government is rejected. The Native Advisory Council was selected by .the Administrator without reference to the natives themselves, and hereditary traditions and rights which have been jealously guarded were overlooked. The Citizens' Committee, added Mr. Stewart, contended that it is desirable to return to the original practice of the people, in nominating their own representatives for a fixed period. It bad petitioned for a repeal of .the laws imposing punishment upon offenders without trial before, constituted courts, it had sought the abolition of the medical tax imposed upon all natives, and opposed the regulations which restrained, without good cause, a Samoan from travelling or dwelling in any village other than his own. At all meetings the committee had advised strict obedience to the laws and had exhorted the people to rely upon receiving justice in all matters on which tho committee was striving to .secure a change. ! " Mr. Stewart said that a cable message received from Samoa stated that the Adminisfralor had scut away to Apolima the high chief members of the committee to await his pleasure. It will be as much as the committee can do to prevent serious trouble which the action of the Administrator is likely to precipitate.

STATEMENT BY PREMIER (Per Press Association.! AUCKLAND, this day. "You can rest assured that anything done will be quite constitutional, and a most complete inquiry will be made before any action is taken," said the Premier, Mr, J. G. Coates-, this morning relative to the Samoan chiefs. The New Zealand Government was fully informed of the position, he said", and knew exactly what was being done. "You eanno| have two governments in Samoa," he observed. Mr. Contcs also slated that the sending of the chief to Apolima. and the treated in the Order-in-Council were quite different.