SAMOA COMMISSION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1927, Page 2

SAMOA COMMISSION

(Special to Press Association by Radio

APIA, Oct. 11. Hon Mr Nelson gave evidence before the Commission to-day. He said that the Administration’s prices for copra were impossible for it to pay if all the expenses were charged up. Samoa was being run by a dictator, under whom the heads of the Departments carried out policies against the wishes of the people. Mr Nelson alleged that scapegoats were made, and said that un-na.nt.cd people who committed serious offences -were allowed to leave Samoa. The Medical Department did not supply a service equivalent to its cost. The Administrator had exceeded his duty, said Mr Nelson, when lie accepted from the Faipules the emblems of Samoan sovereignty. Properties in Apia town, which should belong to the Samoan Government, wore actually being acquired by New Zealand estates, which was unfair to Samoa. The cry “Samoa for the Samoans!” was misclievious, said Mr Nelson. It only meant that it would cause dissention ns between the Europeans and the Samoans.

The remainder of the day at tlie Commission was spent in cross examination of Hon Nelson, seeking to show he knew the effect of the'action of liis committee would he to cause serious native unrest. He maintained his allegations against tlie Medical Department, especially the chief medical officer, in spite of favourable reports on the latter hv Drs Buxton and Hopkins of London School of Tropical Medicine, and Dr Lambert of Roekfellow Institute He still thought the Department

did not inspire respect and excited ridicule, though one or two of its doctors did good work. He admitted his committee's financial report published to natives and Europeans contained serious inaccuracies, which lie might easily have detected if lie had had time to check them, but lie had been too busy. It was true tlie report went out to the natives and others with the undeniable influence of bis name on. The nature of liis allegations about foreclosure of the one hundred thousand loan was based on a statement of the late Mr Massey to Parliament, about

Crown Estates Security Loan. He admitted liis statements in examination, in chief about Apia town properties and taken over reparation estates, bad now been shown to be erroneous. He lias based his evidence on what had been reported to him. Sir C. Skerret commented that witness seemed to be singularly lacking in the quality of being sure of bis facts, which men in the position of public leaders always should strive for.