“FRAME-UP" ALLEGED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18255, 25 November 1933, Page 8

“FRAME-UP" ALLEGED

ARRESTS IN SAMOA L ABORITES’ CRITICISM PRIME MINISTER REPLIES ['< r:: • M (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. During the Estimates debate in the House ut Representatives, Mr. J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn) criticised the administration of Western Samoa. He complained that Mr. Nelson and the Samoan chiefs laid been “framed-up” and taken before judges, whose verdicts had been upset, and who had shown that they were biassed, and were not ’tile proper people to deal witli the cases. He said lie trusted that because Mr. Nelson happened to be a political opponent of the Government lie would not be persecuted. Mr. F.. Langstone (Lab., Waimarino) said that New Zealand’s attitude to Samoa did not reflect credit on this country. “I hope we are not going to see another : massacre or any more" deportations/’ lie. added. • •' < Mr. F. W. Schramiii (Lab., Auckland E.) asked what were the circumstances underlying the present arrests, -and suggested that it was a.'mistake to have a. military administrator. The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes said the present affair in Samoa- was really subjudice. ...

Mr. Lee: A “frame-up.” Mr. Forbes said the speeches of members of the Opposition were not helpful. Any suggestion that the law could be, defied with impunity had a disturbing influence on the minds of people. Justice in Samoa was the same as in New Zealand.

Replying to criticism of the military administrator. Mr. Forbes said the present administrator was a lawyer. Out of patriotism he had gone to "Hie war, and yet members of the Opposition held that against him in as far as any other • employment in .the country was concerned. ! “