EVERY FACILITY TO CITIZENS’ COMMITTEE

Evening Star, Issue 19659, 12 September 1927, Page 3

EVERY FACILITY TO CITIZENS’ COMMITTEE

PREMIER REFUTES CHARGES (Special to tub ‘ Stab,’] WELLINGTON, September 11. To the observations of Mr 0. E. Nelson’s solicitor alleging that the order of reference and the hasty despatch of the Commission deprive the Citizens’ Committee of the chance to ventilate their grievances, the Premier makes the following reply : (1) The Government is of the opinion, and f think the petitioners must agree, that the hearing of their complaint by an impartial tribunal in Samoa itself is in every way superior to a hearing by a parliamentary committee in Now Zealand which is not in a position to hear the evidence to be taken in Samoa at first Land. (2) The Government lias not prevented the bearing of tbo petition, but, bearing in mind the considerations mentioned in paragraph (1), decided to recommend the appointment of a Commission. As a result of this step the Joint Samoan Committee itself decided to adjourn pending the conclusion of the Commission’s investigation. (J) Yon suggest that the Commission lias been drafted and issued in any way the Government pleased, and that it' has omitted from the order of reference some, ol: tho petitioner s complaints. J have only to reler you to tho Commission itself, a copy or which was forwarded to you on the Gth lust., and to paragraph (1) of the order of reference, which reads as follows:—“Whether, having regard to the duties undertaken by the Government of New tincloi the said mandate, there is just or reasonable cause for such complaints or objections.” The phrase ‘ such complaints or objections ” refers to a previous paragraph ru tho Commission reciting tho fact that complaints and objections have been made to tnc Government concerning tho administration of Western Samoa, certain ot such complaints and objections being set forth in Parliamentary Paper A and in a petition presented to Parliament during its present session You will note that tins paragraph of the order of reference explicitly and definitely includes the whole of tho matter raised in this petition. 1 ara,graph (2) of tho order of reference, in order to avoid any possibility that your clients in their complaints and objections may have omitted any 'thine beanim on the administiation of the territory, includes again definitely and explicitly the question: “ Whether the Administrator or tho officials of the Administration have in finy manner exceeded their duly m the exorcise of tho authority entrusted to them respectively, or have failed to exercise their respective functions honestly and justly. ’ . It seems clear to mo that if the petitioners were ready for a hearing ot their petition by a parliamentary committee, and feel themselves aggrieved that the parliamentary committee. did not forthwith proceed with its inquiry into the petition, then there is little cause for complaint that they are not ready to proceed with the same matters before a Commission. Your suggestion that those anxious to support the complaints set out in the petition wall he “ exposed to molestation and punishment by the very Governmental authority or whose conduct they complain without any reliable guarantee of protection, is a reflection on tho Government of this country.

Mr Coates adds that ho had previously advised the solicitors in response to an inquiry that “ every facility will bo afforded for Hie Committee to I'uther and arrange its witnesses and evidence, provided that the committee proceeds without public demonstrations or agitation. Tho inquiry is judicial, and the recognised methods ol preparation for a judicial inquiry must be adopted.”