SAMOAN COMMISSION.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17242, 29 October 1927, Page 8

SAMOAN COMMISSION.

ADDRESSES BY COUNSEL. BANISHMENTS NECESSARY. INACCURACIES ADMITTED. APIA, 0ct.28. Mr Meredith, before the Samoan Commission, contended that the socalled banishments by the Administration were necessary as a revolution was apparent, with the risk of bloodshed following if the position were not grappled with resolutely. The Citizens’ Committee had substantiated no serious complaints. They were mostly based on incomplete facts and were highly fantastic. Mr Baxter, counsel for the Citizens’ Committee, gave an address that lasted for three hours. lie said it was unfair for the Administration to compete in the copra trade against the merchants, who had invested huge capital in its development. It was not shown that they exploited the natives. He admitted that the committee’s allegations regarding the finance of the Administration were erroneous in some respects, but not that they were deliberately erroneous. Not a tittle of evidence had been brought to show that the natives were misled by these errors. He contended that striking evidence had been given by the natives who disputed the medical tax and the division of land. He said the Crown had been tactless in its handling of the whole affair, and had changed an ordinary situation into the existing- state of affairs. %

Mr T. B. Slipper, for the natives, asked the commission to request the New Zealand Government to do away with prohibition to some extent. He said there was nothing to warrant the wholesale banishment which had taken place. The inquiry is now ended.