THE SAMOAN COMMISSION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1927, Page 2

THE SAMOAN COMMISSION

OPENING AT APIA. [Special to Press Association.] [By Radio.] APIA, Sept. 24. The Royal Commission held its initial sitting to-day. Mr Meredith instructed by the New Zealand Dominion appeared for the Administration, with Mr McCarthy, Crown Solicitor, and Mr Klinkmneller, Assistant Consul. Messrs Baxter and Slipper, local lawyers, appeared for the Citizens’ Committee and the Samoans associated with it.

Mr Baxter intimated no attack was being made on the personal characters of any officials. The objections were to the interference by the Administrator in the copra trade; prohibition ; excessive expenditure by the Medical Department ; repressive actions against the “ Maui ” movement; the Legislative Council doings; excess of authority by officials ; banishment of the Chiefs ; removal of titles, and native affairs generally. The application that the banished Chiefs be temporarily repatriated, and allowed to remain at Apia while the Commission continues, was granted only tentatively. The Chief Justice intimated that if they were material witnesses, doubtless the Administration would extend the leave period, but if they were immaterial their presence at Apia would only tend to degrade the Commission in the eyes of tlie natives:

The application for the adjournment of the Commission to allow the petitioners to prepare their briefs of evidence, was not granted.

Sir Cbas. Skerrett recognised the difficulties of the counsel, owing to circumstances beyond their control, but at the same time, it was known the Citizens’ Committee case had been prepared a year or so, as instanced by Mr Nelson in a public iiaper. He would meet -counsel’s needs wherever possible, but the sittings must resume on Monday morning. In these days the old-time long brief had disappeared, and counsel carried his briefs in bis bead. The absence of the briefs should prove a benefit and not a detriment to the Citizens’ counsel who should formulate specific charges, and place them before the Commission, hut there was no immediate hurry for them.