SAMOAN COMMISSION

Evening Star, Issue 19663, 16 September 1927, Page 10

SAMOAN COMMISSION

JONVENED FOR SEPTEMBER 24 CITIZENS’ COMMITTEE DIFFICULTIES (Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, September 15. Tho first sitting of the Samoan Royal Commission has been convened by public notice for Saturday week (September 24), according to a wireless message received from Apia by the lion. 0. F. Nelson. The taking of evidence, tho message says, will begin at once, and the Commissioners, it is hoped, will leave for Now Zealand by tho Tofua- on Octobei 21. Mr Nelson said he bad just received a telegram stating that, while the imprisoned chiefs could not be released (as had been asked), reasonable facilities would be given to enable them to attend before, tho Commission to give evidence. Rpgarding the chiefs who had been’ banished to villages other than their own, no agreement had been reached. lie did not know the exact number of men in both classes, but >t should by now bo several dozen. The banished chiefs were scattered far and wide, which added to the. committee’s difficulties in presenting its case. Mr Nelson will leave for Sydney to-, morrow, and will go to Samoa by the Sierra, arriving about a week after the Commissioners. IMMUNITY 0F WITNESSES COMMISSION'S ACT EXTENDED TO SAMOA [From Oof Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 15. The Commissions of Inquiry Act is to bo applied to Western Samoa under the terms of an Order in Council published in to-day’s ‘ Gazette.’ This statute authorises the Governor in Council to appoint any person or persons to be a commission to inquire into and report on any question arising out of the administration of tho Government, or tho working of any existing law, or regarding tho necessity or expediency of any proposed legislation, or concerning the conduct of any officer of tho Public Service.

In the application of the Act '« Samoa the Order in Council expressly extends to that territory tho immunity of witnesses and counsel appearing before such commissions, and revision is made for the payment of expenses out of Samoan funds.

The principal Act empowers the commission to make an order for costs against any parties to an inquiry, and this provision is extended to Samoa, so that any orders for costs may bn enforced by "proceedings before tho High Court of Western Samoa.