SAMOAN UNREST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 160, 24 July 1937, Page 7

SAMOAN UNREST

-Press Assn.-

Mau Police Interfere with Eurcpeans MANAGER ASSAULTED

(By Telegrraph-

— Copyright. )

APIA, July 22. The Mau polieo were agaiu active on Tuesday. At 8.30 p.m. Mr. W, E. Clarke, department manager of Morris, Hedstrom, Ltd., when eycling home was stopped at Vaimoso village by Mau police and oi'dered to dismount and walk. When he did not comply, Mr. Clarke, was struck a blow on the ear, whieh knocked him down. On recovoring in a dazed eondition, he was again struck on the face, causing kis teeth to penetrate his upper lip. He reported the matter to the police at Faumina, and six persons wero arrested. To-day they appeared before Chief Judge Morling. Oue of thom, Ueni, pleaded gqilty to assault on Mr. Clarke and was sentenced to one month's miprisonment. The other flve were rclcased. Other cases were those of man anrl wontan cvclists, who were held kp and required to walk while passing through the village. The incidents were reported. liumours that motor-cars and lorries will also be stopped and diverted to another route are prevailing, but so f ar no cases have been xeported. This afternoon, when a Native procession in connection with the Tamasese mat ceremony turned into Vaea street, . seven or eight Samoans, armed with axes, knives-and shotguns, proceeded ahead, compelling all vehicles to halt on the side of the street. Native drivers obeyed, but a white lady, Mrs. Braisby;, wife of the inspector of police, who was leaving Morris, Hedstrom 's grocery department, moved to the centre of the road, where she met the advance party of the procession and was called on to stoj> her car. She did not do so, and Samoans seized the vehicle. They compelled her to declutch and pushed the car backwards. The procession then moved on, while the advance guard rev mained in a threatening manner, linel up on either side of car. The hoodj was pierced with a knife in two places. j Af ter the procession passed, the ' Samoans still surrounded the car, ! calling to their chiefs would they do anything to Mrs. Braisby. One or two minor chiefs replied, "Yes," but the chief who was apparently senior to the others replied, "No." This action averted what might have been another nasty incident in Samoan history. Eurqpeans' feelings are indicated by the xemarks of one xesident, who said; "We are wondering what will happen next and when the New Zealand Government will wake up to the true situatien in Samoa."