“Fair Deal” on Samoan Petition

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 97, 15 July 1927, Page 1

“Fair Deal” on Samoan Petition

question in house COMMITTEE ASKED FOR (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The establishment of a committee to deal with tiie petition recently presented to Parliament from Samoa was asked by Mr. H. G. R. Mason, Eden, wlto expressed, a desire to have the petition considered before the Hon. O. Nelson returned from New Zealand to Samoa. „ The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. a. Coates, said the setting-up of a committee was a matter of machinery, and the petition would have to take its ordinary course—through the Classification Committee, thence to a committee to deal specifically with this petition. It might become necessary, however, for the petition to be referred back to the Administrator before it was dealt with bv the committee. This was in accordance with the machinery laid down in the mandate. Mr Mason: Will you arrange to have the evidence of Mr. Nelson taken before he leaves New Zealapd. Mr Coates: He w#uld be liable to be called bv the committee, i Mr. PI. E. Holland; But if he leaves

New Zealand he might no get a passport to come back. Mr. Coates: Oh, there is no fear of that. The hon. gentleman is very concerned about him. but I can assure the House that Mr. Nelson will get a fair hearing—whatever may be said to the contrary.