Deportation Without Trial.

Meantime, in June, 1927, the Citizens' Committee had appointed Mr. A. G. Smyth and myself to visit New Zealand to give evidence on the Samoans' petition to Parliament, and we applied to the police for passports in the usual way. We were then advised by the Administrator that on our return circumstances might cause our immediate deportation (without trial, of course) under the amended Immigration Order. That this threat was pure bluff, intended to gag us or frighten us from speaking too free! in New Zealand, became clear when we reached the Dominion, and found, in August, the Government there bringing down a Bill to amend the Samoa Act, and give the Administrator power to deport any European whom he had reason to believe was hindering the functioning of the Administration, and to carry out deportation proceedings without giving the person accused any trial, producing any evidence, or calling any witnesses in support of the charge. It was amazing for Mr. Smyth and me to watch this iniquitous Act being rushed through the House with all the force of a commanding majority at one sitting, and the proceeding reminded me of the Legislative Council in our Island home when the Administrator-Premier introduced some Government measure which he wanted put through in a hurry.