“PREVENTING TROUBLE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 80, 25 June 1927, Page 9

“PREVENTING TROUBLE”

TRADERS’ FEARS By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 11.15 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. Mr. L. Stewart, manager of Nelson and Company, Island traders, in reply to statements made by the Hon. W. Nosworthy regarding the Samoan administration, said that from Mr. Nosworthy’s statements one would conclude that sedition had occurred as a result of agitation by the Citizens' Committee. The Administrator, with the advice of the Legislative Council, could make laws which were passed into force without the approval of the New Zealand Government, though the latter had the power to veto any ordinance within one year. “The Legislative Council is composed of official and unofficial members at the present time,” he went on. “The unofficial members are in a minority of one, and any proposal made by them which does not meet with the approval of the Government is rejected. “The Native Advisory Council was selected by the Administrator without reference to the natives themselves, and hereditary traditions and rights which have been jealously guarded were overlooked. “The Citizens’ Committee contended that it was desirable to return to the original practice of the 'people in nominating their own representatives for a fixed period. It had petitioned for a repeal of the laws Imposing punishment upon offenders without trial before constituted courts. It had sought abolition* of the medical tax imposed upon all natives, and opposed the regulations which restrained without good cause a Samoan from travelling or dwelling in any village other than his own.

Mr. Stewart said in regard to the cable received from Samoa, stating that the Administrator had sent away to Apolima two high chief members of the committtee to await his pleasure: “It is as much as the committee can do to prevent serious trouble, which the action of the Administrator is likely to precipitate.” —A. and N.Z.