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50. Mr. Wright.] Is it clear that everything in Samoa was under the jurisdiction of New Zealand at the time? —No, under the Imperial authorities. The position is not clearly defined, and will not be until the position is made clear by arrangement between England and this Dominion. Those Forces down there are Imperial Forces to all intents and purposes. Once they leave here they are absolutely under the control of the Imperial authorities, and any communications with Colonel Logan from here should, I believe, go'through His Excellency the Governor. 51. The New Zealand Parliament could not pass any legislation affecting that? —I do not think it could. Sir John Findlay: They have; they passed the War Regulations Act, and vested in the Minister of Defence the power to override the sentence passed by this Court. The Chairman: That, is owing to the fact of Gaudin being in New Zealand ? Witness: With regard to the regulation that Sir John Findlay referred to as having been passed specially to meet Gaudin's case, all that regulation did was to provide that if a person in New Zealand was convicted of a crime outside New Zealand he could bo detained in New Zealand. The Chairman: You spoke of a letter, Sir John, that you were endeavouring to get to place before the Committee. Sir John Findlay: Yes. I did not know until late that I was to be here this morning or I would have brought it with me. I have had the letter looked up, and have seen Professor Salmond. The letter is addressed to me, and not marked "private." Professor Salmond told me he had seen the Minister of Defence, and the letter says that if Mr. Gaudin will write a letter making accusations against no one and couched in proper language, for the purpose of getting a letter from the Minister of Defence, the Minister will probably favourably consider it, and Mr. Gaudin can use it as he thinks fit. T have obtained Professor Salmond's consent to put the letter in before the Committee, and I will send it along.

APPENDIX. Dear Sir John, — Solicitor-General's Office, Wellington 9th July, 1915. With reference to the subject-matter of yesterday's conversation with you, Mr. Gaudin's proper course is to write to the Minister of Defence setting out the grievance of which he complains. A properly worded communication of this kind, avoiding accusations against otherpersons and avoiding also any needless detail as to the facts of the case, will receive favourable consideration, and Mr. Gaudin may make such use of the reply as he thinks fit, Since the matter is not one which relates to Mr. Gaudin in his capacity as an officer of the Defence Forces, the Military Regulations as to communications by officers are inapplicable, and there is no objection to direct communication with the Minister as suggested. Yours very sincerely, John W. Salmond. New Zealand Police. Police-station, Auckland, 9th November, 1914. Report of Detective-Sergeant J. W, Hollis, No. 758, relative to the detention of Frederick Gaudin on arrival of s.s. " Navua " from Samoa, and the finding of letters with him addressed to< prisoners of war. I respectfully report having, in company with Detectives Scott and Quartermain and Constable Gourlay, boarded the s.s. " Navua " upon her arrival from Samoa in the Auckland Harbour at 6.30 p.m., above date. I interviewed Mr. Fred Gaudin, who readily admitted that he was in possession of correspondence for prisoners of war (Dr. Schultz, Max Mars, and Dr. Schubert), and also a trunk containing clothing for Max Mars. He also produced a letter marked private for G. Kronfeld. Mr. Gaudin was in possession of a large quantity of business correspondence and letters addressed to business firms. He is detained as instructed. • The Inspector of Police, Auckland. J. W. Hollis, Detective-Sergeant.

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