DEPORTED FROM SAMOA

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1931, Page 3

DEPORTED FROM SAMOA

CHINESt TAILOR. PETITION PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT. WELLINGTON, July 7. Parliament’s aid to ellect the reunion of a deported Chinese tailor and his Samoan wife and twi Ive children is invoked in a petition presented to the House to-day by Mr Fraser (Wellington Central.) Petitioner is Mary Ah Tuoi of Apia, and she asks that her husband wlm was deported on August 24, 1929, be licen;sed to return to the territory. It is pointed out that with the exception of the eldest- boy the-children are. dependent on their parents for- their maintenance and education. The youngest child was horn subsequent to the faeher’s deportation.

Ah Tuoi, according to the petitioner, is also known as lung Ivwai, Tung Kuoi, Tung Tuoi and Fung Ivui. He was born in China and resided in Samoa as a “free settler” from 1911 until August 24, 1929, when lie was deported by the Administrator, aitei only three days’ notice. With the exception of a few minor offences of no political importance, Ah Tuoi had obeyed the laws in force' but on August 10, 1929, lie was arrested by the police and placed in the Vainiea State prison. NO REASON GIVEN. No "arrest- warrant was presented, no "reason ever was given for the arrest and, as,far as was known, no charge ever had been laid against him. Furthermore, be had not been guilty of any conduct that would warrant any charge being preferred.

Acting on instructions from Ah Tuoi* his solicitor, Mr T. B. Slipper applied to the High Court foi‘ Ah Tuoi’s release and the issue of a writ of habeas corpus, but the applications were refused. Whilst still in gaol, Ah Tuoi received from the Commissioner of Labour a notice dated August 20, giving him notice of deportation. On August 24 he was taken in custody on the Tofua and forcibly deported from Samoa.

Petitioner adds that apart from her husband’s necessity and desire to live in Samoa and maintain her and his family, his busines and property cannot he concluded or satisfactorily realised without his personal attention Ah Tuoi is prepared to enter into a bond and agree to conditions governing his continued residence in Samoa and, if necessary, pay any reasonable poll tax or other impositions. He undertakes at all times to obey the law and keep good order and peace.