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SAMOA UNREST

DEFENCE OF MR NELSON PEACEMAKING EFFORT THWARTED BY DEPORTATION (.Special to the ‘ Star.’J AUCKLAND, February 21. A resident of Apia, writing to a friend in Auckland under date February 7, appears to have foreseen the action of the New Zealand Government in despatching warships. Referring to the unrest in Samoa, he wrote: “ The proper course is for the Administrator to recognise the Mau (which he will not do), meet them, and see if he cannot arrange a settlement by giving a little. Jf the natives then remain adamantly unreasonable, the only arbiters would bo the warships,” The writer adds: “Things have not improved by the deportation of Messrs Nelson, Smyth, and Gurr. In fact, the Government have put themselves in rather an awkward position, for it was claimed that the natives would settle dwn but for these Europeans. That was the Government’s justification for these arbitrary measures. These three men have been sent away, and the position is as bad as ever, and will perhaps bo worse, because Mr Nelson’s restraining influence has been removed. The position now is that the Government has got itself very unpopular both in New Zealand and here by an action which must bo distasteful to British people, without achieving any useful results. Jt may be said that these three deserved deportation, but no person has any right, much less a Government, to judge without trial; added to which punishment is not the purpose of the Act under which the deportations were made. The Act was designed to provide for the removal of a person whoso presence was dangerous to the political health of the community, just as a person such ns a leper is dangerous to the physical health of the community and may be removed. ' In such cases the curtailment of an individual’s rights may be justified by the protection of the interest of the wdiole community. “ Punishment should be by a court ol justice after proper trial. Either the Government has misjudged the position, or else has wrongly used the Act to punish or ‘ get even.’ As a matter ol faet ; Mr Nelson was asked by the Administrator to use his best endeavors to persuade the Native Mau Committee to leave Apia, to keep the peace, obey the laws, and to put complaints through constitutional channels. A couple of days afterwards, and while Mr Nelson was, with the knowledge of the Secretary of Native Affairs, taking the necessary preliminary steps for the holding of a meeting with the natives, he received a notice to leave Apia in thirty days. If Mr Nelson’s presence was injurious or likely to be prejudicial to the peace of the' country the past was over, and any damage done eoald not have been prevented: and the perpetrators, it law breakers, should have been brought before the court. “If Mr Nelson’s removal was considered necessary in the interests of peace, then why was he asked to use his influence to keep the peace, and also why was be hampered by the issue of a deportation order just before the meeting? A lot of Mr Nelson’s friends considered that the action of the Administrator in ordering his deportation had relieved that gentleman of Ids promise, and thought that he should allow the natives to prevent Ids deportation. Mr Nelson fortunately thought otherwise He said he had given Ids promise, and would keep it. and that he would not do anything that might result in the loss of one drop ol blood. ■Mr Nelson met the natives and the Secretary of Native Affairs, and made a genuine attempt to get the Samoans to obey the law. The natives agreed to let Mr Nelson go, but refused to promise anything further. “The Government is now bringing clown six European police. Of what use can that number be, with a population of 4U.UOU natives in a scattered, comparatively primitive country? It is to 'be hoped that these constables will not, in their ignorance, precipitate a serious situation.”

LABOR LEADER'S ADDRESS

SHOULD RESTORE MANDATE [Peb United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, February 'J I. “Tho more 1 study tho report or. the Royal Commission which visited Samoa tho more 1 am convinced that it is a worthless exposition of the situation there,” said Mr H. E. Holland (Leader of the Opposition) in an address in tho Trades Hall to-night. For over two hours Mr Holland declaimed on tho politics of the mandated territory, and lie declared that the only course open to New Zealand was to return the mandate to the League of Nations, restore the deported Europeans and banished natives to their homes, and, above all, recall tho Administrator (Sir George Richardson) at tho earliest possible moment. He was listened to with close attention by a large audience of members of the Labor movement, and at the close of his address he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Mr Holland declared that the Samoan Amendment Act had been forced through the House of Representatives last session by tho Government when it had found that the threats of deportation, which had been made previously, were unconstitutional There was not a line in the Royal .Commission’s report which would bring any man in Samoa within reach of tho law. The Commission had been given a copy of tho evidence tendered before tho parliamentary committee, but it had rejected the evidence on the ground that most of it was hearsays. On the contrary, Mr Holland said, most of the evidence given before the committee by Mr Nelson was direct evidence, while that given by Sir George Richardson before the Commission was mostly hearsay. Dealing with the evidence and the Commission’’ report, Mr Holland said that only excerpts were given of General Richardson’s tribute to Mr Nelson; but all of Mr Nelson’s early tribute to the Administration was published. As one read the report it became more clear that the only offence of Samoans was that they wanted selfgovernment. It had been said that the natives were refusing to collect beetles, but the fact was that they were collecting beetles and were handing them to the Man instead of to the Administration officials: The report was silent on the comments which were made by the Administrator on cases which were sub judice. No reference was made in it to the action of the Samoa Chief Justice, who had been fined for insulting two native chiefs, and no> mention was made of two cases of Government officials who had committed offences against young natives. General Richardson was quoted as having told the Commission that at the time he made complaints he could not have cited a specific charge which would have justified the appearance of any man before the courts under the immigration ordinances.

Referring to the latest developments and the attempt by the Administration to obtain a meeting with the committee of the Man, Mr Holland said that the meeting could have been held long ago if a conciliatory spirit had been shown. He said tho natives were en-

titled to a greater measure of selfgovernment than they were being given.

NELSON'S OFFER OF HELP

PREMIER’S DENIAL

WELLINGTON, February 21. In connection with Mr Nelson’s alleged offer of help regarding the Samoan situation, the Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates) makes the following statement to-day:—“lt is a matter for regret that Mr Nelson’s proffered good offices were not available many months ago. J have received no communication from him regarding recent events in Samoa.”

STORES FOR THE WARSHIPS

AUCKLAND, February 21. An expected departure from Auckland at an early date is the Admiralty oil tanker Nucula for Samoa. In addition to having a large quantity of oil fuel on hoard for the cruisers Dunedin and Diomede, the Nucula is also loading stores to take to Samoa for the two warships. The tanker is berthed at tho sheerlegs wharf, Devonport, and on Thursday the vessel will sign on a crew. Later she will take her departure.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19280222.2.20

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Evening Star, Issue 19797, 22 February 1928, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,330

SAMOA UNREST Evening Star, Issue 19797, 22 February 1928, Page 3

SAMOA UNREST Evening Star, Issue 19797, 22 February 1928, Page 3

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