SAMOA

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1928, Page 3

SAMOA

DFPOKTATIOX OK TaMASHSH MR 0. F. N HI.SON’S VIFWS(Hy Telegraph—Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 20. “The deportation of Tamasese from Samoa fo Mount Kden Gaol, as the atesf move in the Samoan political hess-board must he as big a surprise o most people in New Zealand, as it s fo me,” said Mr 0. F. Xeison this -Horning. “Until the responsibility for 11. s action is definitely located and the new Government's policy in respect 10 Li 10 Samoan.trouble has keen announced I prefer not to make any comment.’' “Tamasese.” he added, “though a loyal supporter of the Mail from the lit set. took no active part until the .vhoiesale arrests of .Mail people were made by the New Zealand Division ol die Royal Navy, lie was then, hy the u.nanimoiis request ol the .Man. called ii poll to take up the lead. It must, therefore, he assumed that the, course he has followed was laid down for him hv the Man. and his actions have been in conformity with the wishes of the

Samoan peonle. It will he remembered , that Tamasese was one of the first o whom the Administrator applied the full machinery of the Samoan Otleml-"i-s’ Ordinance of 102-1 . He was banished from his home, and deprived oi his cliicily titles. Great resentment was felt hv the Samoans at the time, it was one of The fundamental causes ol the trouble, which ultimately led to the formation of the .Man. “Tamasese will he the first Samoan who is to he incarcerated in it New Zealand gaol as the result of his political views, hut not the first who has keen imprisoned for political purposes. If this policy is to he continued, there does not seem to he any doubt that (he X"W Zealand gaols will soon he overfilled with Samoan political prisoners.” GAOLED SAMOAN CHIEF. I lON. 0. F. XFLSOX’S ALLEGATIONS. WELLINGTON, December 21. It was stated to-day, in reply to the lon. 0. F. Nelson’s: comment, that the Samoan Chiel, Tamnne.se, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment h.v a Judge of the High Court of Western Samoa, on a charge of resisting urivst, and that the order was made for his impiisoiiment in New Zealand. Ihe authority under which he is being transferred to New Zealand is Section 210 of the Samoa Act, 1027, which reads: “.Every person sentenced to imprisonment or committed to prison lor six months or more may by .warrant under the hand of the Administrator, and the seal of Samoa, bo transferred to some prison in New Zealand named or described in the warrant.” It, is stated on good authority, therefore, that the warrant issued is not the deportation warrant of a political prisoner, as alleged hy the lion. Nelson, hut a warrant for the imprisonment of an ordinary prisoner.