SAMOAN COMMISSION.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17220, 1 October 1927, Page 7

SAMOAN COMMISSION.

PROHIBITION ISSUE. UNREST AMONGST THE NATIVES. SIR. NOSWORTHY BLAMED. APIA, Sept. 30. At the Samoan Commission Mr. Arthur Williams, a member of the Legislative Council cross-ex-amined by the Crown counsel, Mir. V. R. Meredith, the witness, said he did not think that Mr O. F. Nelson In witness’ presence had said: “The Government has made a lever of the natives to get prohibition, so why should not we make use of them?” But witness, would not deny this might have been said. Witness had never said, “We must get rid of Sir George Richardson." There never was any such intention. The phrase that had been circulated in Samoa and authorised by the committee of which witness was a member referred to the “cruel, oppressive, and despotic rule of the Government.” He admitted now that this was too strong language to be issued to the natives.” Witness said Mr G. E. L. Westbrook had blarfied the Minister, Hon W. Nosworthy, and the Administrator, Sir George Richardson for the native unrest and for the fact that their constitutional efforts had been hostilely received. Witness did not know that Mr Westbrook’s letter to a New Zealand newspaper about a loan of £2OOO had been translated into Samoan and circulated into Samoan and circulated Fated among the natives, and that it had caused unrest and dissatisfaction with the Administration among the natives. Samuel Hornell Meredith said he thought the Samoans were ready for complete self-Government. Referring to the witness’ failure to admit an, obvious deduction” from a previous statement he had made, the chairman, Sir Charles Skerrett, said: I only want to let you know that we are a thinking tribunal; we do not swallow everything that is said to us.

NEWSPAPER’S ALLEGATIONS. AGAINST COURT OF COMMISSION. RUFFLE TIIE PROCEEDINGS. (Received October 7, 10.15 a.m.) (Special to P.A. by Radio.) APIA, Sept. 30. An article in the Samoa Guardian alleging “ attempted interference by Hie Administration with the llo>al Commission ” and a report in the same newspaper or the proceedings m chambers, were brought to the atten lion or the Commission by Mr Meredith,'who said he thought the article was a direct allegation that the Administrator had interfered with the Commission. Mr Baxter and Mr Slipper, counsel for the Citizens’ Committee and the natives interested, disclaimed any connection with or knowledge of the article or report. “ The allegations put into his month respecting MajorGeneral Sir G. S. Richardson, were untrue,” said Mr Baxter, who added that neither lie nor Mr Slipper were prepared to retain their brief if they were not fully trusted by the committee and natives. , . . Sir G. P. Skerrett (the chairman) said the Court regarded the article as a verv improper one. It had the power to punish but did not propose to take further action than to say that the suggestion of interference or attempted interference on the part of the Administration with the procedure of the Commission was destitute of any foundation in fact. The reference to the preceedings in chambers showed that the writer of the article was singularly destitute of knowledge of normal legal procedure. The suggestion that chamber proceedings had any other reason than to expedite the proceeding's was ludicrous.

further evidence. BY TRADERS AND NATIVES. SOME DAMAGING ADMISSIONS. APIA, October i. At the sittings of the Commission three traders gave evidence that their licenses had been cancelled for no reasons known to them. They admitted they were members of the Mau (Samoa League), and in one case carried Mau supporters at half rates in Mr Nelson’s vessel by order of the firm. , . . Alelieu, a Samoan native, complained that his title had been taken from him. The banishment cf the natives he considered very wrong. Cross-examined, witness said he himself had asked for two natives to be banished from his village, and he did not think those banishments very wrong, as those natives had got up against him. ..