SAMOA COMMISSION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1927, Page 2

SAMOA COMMISSION

(Special to Press Association by Radio

ATM A. Oct. 24, Robert Alien, clerk in tbe Native Department, gave evidence before the ('•nmmission that high Chief lamaSisc had been banished for refusal to obey an order of the Administratqr to remove a. fence erected by Tamcsese on other people’s land. Banishment was requested by bis own people and personally approved by Famuina. now tho noted leader of Alan. The Rcc-rctarv of the Department, fluid,cm, deposed to the Administration's copra purchases as prices which local merchants had stated in their evidence they were unable to afford, had by returns from London been shown to ho' soundly based. One shipment in July would yield Samoan native sellers 4s Od per ton bonus ovei what merclmats had deposed M? could not afford and a second shipment 24s Oil additional. Cross-exam-ination sought to show the Administration did not allow for adequate ,1,,,,-e, (m ~

General Richards m, Administrator gave evidence at length before the Commission. Ho said that before a public meeting was held in October last, the natives were peaceful. He attributed the change to the doings of the Alan, especially the European members of that body. Seditious utterances were made and' broadcasted through traders and others. Ho held documents proving this. Knowing the danger of mixing natives with European political matters. witness said he had endeavoured to prevent it being done here. In October last the present position of affairs proved that his action in that respect was essential. General Richardson disputed the Alan counsel’s contention that Samoa was approaching normality again except with respect to the Samoans working. The true position was that the Faipulcs and others were trying to get things quiet by nor functioning, as if they attempted to carry out their duties there would he trouble. He regarded All' Nelson as the head of the Alan movement. Without him the movement would go “phut .” APIA, Oct. 21.

Evidence before the commission was practically finished yesterday evening though a sitting in chambers to-day is possible to result in one or more witnesses being heard, otherwise the Commission’s public sittings stand adjoin tied for two days to give counsel time to prepare their addresses. in date the Commisionor has sat for 21 days, of usually six and a-hall hours and has heard scores of witnesses, some of whom as individuals spoke as representatives ol scores of others. Much irrevelant evidence has been adduced as yesterday. Sir Charles Skericti repeated his observations of two weeks ago, that anywhere else but Apia. “ where for some unascertained reason there is a peculiar atmosphere of suspicion,” he would have stopped the immaterial evidence adduced that day by Baxter, the cross-examining counsel.