WESTERN SAMOA

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 115, 13 February 1928, Page 6

WESTERN SAMOA

THE DEPORTATIONS ADDRESS BY MR. H. E. HOLLAND Air. IL E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, addressed a large meeting at the Empress Theatre last night on recent happenings in Samoa, including the deportation of Messrs. O. Nelson, Smyth, and Gurf, which was described as “an outrage on British justice.” The chair was taken by .Mr. J. Johnston, president ot the Labour Representation Committee. The Hon. O. F. Nelson was a mejnber of the audience. Mr. Holland prefaced his remarks by stating that it was not necessary for any Labour advocate to apologise for. taking up an antagonistic attitude to the Government’s policy in Samoa, because Labour stood against the oppression of any race, class, sect, or nation. The honour and credit of New Zealand was involved in its administration of Samoa, ami the outv way to divest themselves ot full responsibility in the matter was io get rid of the Government that had brought about tiie present impossible position. For some time past native chiefs had been banished, and ordered to change their names, thereby interfering with tribal rights, causing a feeling of great resentment amongst, the Samoans. Mr. Holland declared that the statements of Sir Joseph Carruthers—a “Tory” member of the New South Wales Legislative Council and anti-Labour—had not been refuted, when he said that the Government were breaking every principle of British justice in their dealings witli the chiefs. Reference was made to the introduction of influenza into Western Samoa hi 1918 through the alleged negligence of officials. An allegation was made that certain serious crimes in Samoa against nioralitv hnd been covered up by the Administration, and were rankling in the Samoans’ minds to-day. Alleged broken promises in regard to granting the Samoans a larger measure of selfgovernment were also dealt with at length. An incident in which a Judge wns charged with and fined for assualt was enlarged on by the speaker, who also alleged that Sir Maui Pomare had publicly stated in the House that the Foiio of Faipules was a useless body to-day. The Deportations. Dealing with the deportations of Messrs. Nelson, Smyth, and Gurr, Air. Holland affirmed that the Chief Judge of Samoa was a politician, and took part in the debates in the Legislative Council, attacking the Government’s opponents. Air. Nelson had been brought bell.re the Administrator, and given only 24 hours to prepare his ease before being driven out of his own country. The Administrator was accuser, judge, and executioner. A voice: They do that in Russia. Air. Holland: “I would make the same protest: were I in Russia.” Continuing, he urged the i ecall of General Richardson. He admitted that he had a good deal of respect for General Richardson, but considered that a man with a military mind wns not in the right place as Administrator of Sam an. Tie declared that if the Labour Party were returned to power in December, the deportations would be at once cancelled, and the deportees invited to return to their homes, and would he told that they could criticise the Government as much as they liked, provided it was done on constitutional lines Mr. R. Semple, president of the Labour Party, moved a resolution condemnatory of the action of the Government’s “repressive and oppressive policy in Samoa." particularly the deportations without trial of natives and Europeans whoso only offence was thai thev wore the political opponents of the Government. The motion wns declared carried unanimously, and n vote, of thanks was accorded Air. Holland.