ALLEGED MURDER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 24 November 1927, Page 5

ALLEGED MURDER

OF AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES BOARD OF MISSIONS' DISCUSSION, REPUTATION OF PEOPLE INVOLVED. [By Cable — Press Assn. — Copyright.] (Received 24, 12.0 p.m.) Sydney, Nov. 24. The Australian Board of Missions at a public meeting at the Chapter House discussed the alleged murder of aboriginals in and around Forest River Mission in 1926 and declared that the question was one which involved the reputation of Australian people throughout the world. The meeting then unanimously carried a minute, which was despatched to the Premier of Western Australia pointing out the serious reflections cast upon the public honour hy the retention as officers of those persons against whom an indictment was. made bv the Commissioner who investigated the alleged murders. WIDE COMMENT. The minute added that the circumstances had been widely commented upon in the Empire and far beyond its bounds. The national cTiaracter of the Australian people was brought to the bar of judgment of the civilised world and that judgment was bound to be given with regard to the action taken upon the findings of the Commissioner. The minute then quoted the statement by the Commissioner that four aborigines met their deaths and were burned near Data about the end of June while in the custody of two constables, and that the only persons responsible for the deaths were the two constables

SERIOUS REFLECTION oN PUBLIC HONOUR The minute continue,: : —ri—that a verdict of nuirr’ could ~ot be found in a court of In™ does ~ot lessen the gravity of the findinc ~nd there is a serious reflection unon the public honour hv the fart that the persons against whom such an indictment was made are still retained in the service of the State as officers for the maintenance of law and order.” The Rev. Cribble, addressing the meeting stated, that 42 natives had lost th?ir lives in that Western Australia nolice expedition and five Of them were women He added that he knew the spot wners 22 men and women were shot on the oham after being in captivity for two days and concluded that nether Church nor State was doing its duty in the matter.