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matter should be referred to the Attorney-General. .1 then saw the Attorney-General, and he promised to see the Solicitor-General. Mr. Gaudin later received a letter stating that the Minister of Defence could not see his way to make any such declaration. The Chief Law Officer of the Crown, who had looked into the circumstances as a lawyer, could find nothing to justify the charge of war treason. But we could not get from the Minister of Defence the statement which I was promised would be given if we wrote, as we did write, to the Minister of Defence. I am not making any complaint against the Minister of Defence. That is how we are here, sir. We are here because we have triad every other means; we are here in the hope that cither this Committee»will recommend that this matter be tried before a Judge of the Supreme Court, or that you gentlemen, sitting as an impartial tribunal, will yourselves say in your report to the House that on the evidence you have heard and will hear there is absolutely no justification for the conviction on the very serious crime of war treason of which this man to-day stands branded. Frederick Edward Norman Gaudin sworn and examined. (No. 2.) 1. Sir John Findlay.] You are the petitioner in this case? —Yes. 2. You are a New-Zealander by birth? —I am. 3. Born of British parents?— Yes, born of British parents. 4. They came to reside in New Zealand in the early " sixties " ? —That is so. 5. Do you know or have you any reason to believe that you have any German blood in your veins? —Not a strain. 6. Can you read, write, or speak German? —I cannot. 7. When did you join the firm of Kronfeld Limited? —In April, 1896. 8. It is a British company, I believe? —It is. 9. Registered under the New Zealand Companies Act?— That is so. 10. I understand the senior member of the firm is a German by birth? —Yes. 11. Is he naturalized? —Yes, of twenty-two years' standing. 12. And the shareholders, are they British subjects? —Yes, all British subjects. .13. I understand this company has carried on business with the South Pacific islands for many years ?—Yes, even before I was connected with it. 14. Including Samoa?— Yes, including Samoa. 15. So that the company carried on business with Samoa when it was under British control? —That is so. 16. Before 1902? —Yes, Under the triumvirate Government. 1.7. And the customers of that date are customers of the company still? —Exactly the same then as now, with a few additions. 18. Have you been, down to the islands often? —Not often. 19. But you have been down representing your company, visiting Samoa? —Yes. 20. You paid one of those visits on the 29th September, 1914?— I did. 21. Was it purely a business visit?— Purely a business visit. 22. Nothing to do with any question of the war at all? —Absolutely nothing. 23. Did you see Colonel Logan on your arrival? —I did. 24. Did you tell him what you had come down for? —I did. I also presented a letter from the Judge Advocate-*leneral of the Forces of New Zealand introducing me to him. 25. As what?—As a business man of the firm of Kronfeld Limited. 26. That is Mr. J. R. Reed? —Yes. Although I knew Colonel Logan, that letter was given to me by Mr. Reed. 27. Did it refer to the fact that you were an officer of the New Zealand Reserves? —Yes; he stated I was his old Adjutant. 28. Did you tell Colonel Logan that you had brought goods down to Apia? —I did. 29. Did you ask him whether there was any objection to your trading with the firms in Samoa? —I asked him if there was any restrictions to trading with the firms in Samoa. 30. What was his reply?— That I was at libert}' to trade with any one. 31. Did you proceed then to trade?—l immediately went ashore and handed consignmentnotes to the traders in the usual way as I had been doing for years past. 32. Was it part of your mission to Samoa to collect debts due to your company? —That was my particular mission. 33. What amount would be due to you apart from the value of the goods you took down?— Nearly £20,000. 34. You collected some? —I collected £832 in gold. 35. Is it a fact that before your arrival Colonel Logan had stopped the distribution of coin to his troops and ceased to pay coin for any goods?—lhat is so. 36. Had he also issued a Proclamation making the German-note currency existing at the outbreak of war legal tender?—He issued a Proclamation to that effect, 37. Did you see Colonel Logan? —I did. 38. Did you point out to him that those notes were useless outside Samoa?—l did. 39. What did you tell him?—l went to Colonel Logan in company with Mr. Shepherd, traveller for Sargood, Son, and Ewen. I pointed out the object of our visit, that we were there for business purposes to collect what was due to the firm. I pointed out that his Proclamation had had a very serious effect on our own particular business, that the notes were absolutely useless outside Samoa, and that I questioned the wisdom of his action in making these notes legal tender. I further said that T did not think it was right from a British point of view. It was certainly playing into the hands of the enemy, as I thought, making the enemy's notes legal tender.