Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Samoa Under the Sailing Gods

IX

IX

As a consequence of the Minister's ultimatum, the Citizens' Committee severed, ostensibly at least, their connection with the Mau.

"Following [says Mr. Nelson] Mr. Nosworthy's visit came a reign of terror as the Administration frantically strove to suppress the movement by force and punishment…. In one month fifty chiefs of the Mau were dealt with. Banishments, deprivation of titles, imprisonment, and other degradations were the means adopted to smother the Mau. But still the movement spread, and every victim of the military dictatorship brought more and more recruits to the ranks of the oppressed. Rival clans who had long been at enmity with each other forgot the feuds and rivalries of generations, and became close-knit in a common cause against a military martinet who was trampling ruthlessly on all that the Samoans have held sacred for centuries past….

"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 freely 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 page break
E. W. Gurr

E. W. Gurr

page 229give 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 …"

A Joint Committee of both Parliamentary Houses was appointed in New Zealand to consider, behind closed doors, the Samoans' petition, with Sir James Allen as chairman. Mr. Nelson was the only witness called, and occupied the stand for eleven days. About half-way through, on August 23rd, the Prime Minister suddenly announced that the Government had decided, on the recommendation of General Richardson, to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into Samoan affairs. The Administrator had recommended the appointment of a Royal Commission—which he had hitherto opposed—in view of the "unwarranted untruths [sic] and sensational statements concerning Samoa."