TONGAN AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 32, 7 February 1905, Page 2

TONGAN AFFAIRS.

(To the EOitor.l Sir. —On reading your leader in Friday's issue re aitairs in Tonga, 1 was much struck by the fact that the information on which you based your violent ,;hillipic against Governor iin Tuurni was exceedingly meagre, and misleading. Having lately severed my connection with these islands, and having no axe to grind in this connection, 1 wouJd, nevertheless, from a spirit of British fair play, like to place a few facts in connection with this matter before your readers and the general public.

(1) You state that "the King of Tonga has always manifested a laudable to preserve good relations with Great Britain." Such is not the case. Ou the contrary, for years continual complaints have been made by the European residents of injustice suffered and treaty rights . infringed by the Tongan Government. Individual complaints producing no results, and matters going from bad to worse, it was finally decided to take concerted action. Such strong representations were made, through the British Consul, to the then High Commissioner (Sir H.. Jackson) that he sailed for Tonga, in order, if possible, to settle the matters in dispute amicably with the Tongan Government. On arrival a detailed report was laid before him, and he expressed great surprise that things were in such a bad state—far worse than he had expected to find them. The Tongan Health Officer refused permission to land, plague having been prevalent at one of the ports at which the man-of-war had previously called. The Commissioner returned to Fiji, and subsequently, on his being recalled, laid the whole of the papers in connection with the ease before the Foreign Office. Hence his successor, Governor im Thurm, was in full possession of the facts long before he saw Tonga, and no doubt had instructions as to his mode of procedure upon arrival. \2) You state that the King and chiefs were not consulted, which is another glaring error, as no less than four meetings of the chief* were held, at two of which both the King and High Commissioner were present, and certain reforms were proposed and submitted to their consideration. The chiefs, at one of the remaining meetings,- after much discussion amongst themselves, decided to petition His Excellency to bring about certain reforms, prominent amongst which were the dismissal of the Premier and Minister of Police and their satellites from office, and the appointment of suitable men in their place; an audit of the Treasury accounts, and a revision of the land laws. At the final meeting a vote of thanks was proposed and carried for the good work His Excellency had done, and they further petitioned him to take such as would prevent a possible recurrence of the treatybreaking, etc. All these meetings were thoroughly representative, all the chiefs of Tongatabu, influential and otherwise, being present, and all without exception signifying their acquiescence with the resolution adopted.

(3) It is notorious that the Government of the group was practically in the hands of private persons, whose stake in the country, whose ability, either political or commercial, in no wise entitled them to the predominance they enjoyed, and who were the principal factors in causing constant friction between the Government of Tonga and the Foreign Office.—l am, etc., EX-TRADER. [We have dealt with these statements at length in our leading columns.—Ed. "E.S."J