AUSTRALIAN NEWS,

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1927, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS,

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) COMING WINE SEASON. SYDNEY. Dee. 12. Murray Valley vigneriions believe the coining vintage will he the most profitabb" for many years, as ideal conditions for vines prevail. They fruited well, as there lias been no pests with which they bad to combat. Satisfaction was expressed at the good prices "hicli are being obtained, also at the Federal bounty, which stimulated the indus.ry considerably.

THE SAMOAN COMMISSION. A CRITICISM. SYDNEY, Dec. 12. Sir Joseph Carruthers, in a letter to the “Morning Herald” regarding the findings of the Samoan Commission. says just as he expected, the Commissioners reported on the issues submitted to the Commission. The terms of reference were so narrow that no other report could have been anticipated Ilian that which was published. Findlay strongly advised the Samoans not to participate in the proceedings, inasmuch as the scope of inquiry so devised as to exclude the consideration of major questions which were the crux of the matter.

Notwithstanding that advice. Nelson and other leading; members of ilie community decided to appear and give evidence, before llio commissioners. Naturally they were unable to make their ease good within Ihe narrow terms of reference, that regulated the inquiry.

After a perusal of evidence Sir Joseph Carruthers says lie would come to the same conclusions as the Commissioners. He had always held that Richardson had done excellent workin Samoa. Everyone must admit the fact and to investigate the matter was about as futile as to flog a dead horse. Again, it is admitted, the Administrator, in li is punishment of the natives, without fair open trial, was conforming to the laws and ordinance made by a superior authority, namely the New Zealand Government and Parliament. Tt. therefore needed no Commission gravely to decide, for the Administrator merely complied with the law as he found it. yet those two matters practically sum up the main issues whereon the Commission makes its findings

Sir Joseph Carruthers continues. “Jt takes some courage for a man of my position to condemn the actions of a Government, of a sister Dominion. AA’lint T always eontended. is ihat monstrous injustice has been perpetrated in regard to Samoa, and Samoans hy .the setting up of the machinery of’a Government, which denies to scores of thousands of humble native Polynesians the right of an open and fair trial, according to the forms of law and justice, and which sulystitui.es, in its place obsolete and discredited methods of Star Chamber, which makes of one man Prosecutor, Judge and Jury at his own trier whim or pleasure, and which deprives the accused person of those rights which every Briton dooms his inalienable right. That same right should ever be conceded to the subjects under British rule wherever they may be. The Commission has no power to fry this issue, and gravamen of charge stilt remains with no other Jury |o decide if than a lienltbv public opinion of men of a British race.

LABOR WARNING. SYDNEY, Doe. 12.

The Australian Labour Party Executive lias issued a warning to labour members of tbe Federal State Parliaments that tliev must not give pairs except in cases of great emergency. Members of tbo Executive believe if Labour members of the State Parliament are in constant attendance they may be able to defeat the Government on a snap division.

A FIRE. ADELAIDE, Dec. 12. Four shops wore destroyed by 'fire and two seriously damaged at Solomontown, a suburb of Port Pirio. The damage amounts to many thousands sterling. LIQUOR POLL. SYDNEY, Doc. 12. All" Bavin has decided to allow a liquor refrendum. which was deferred during the reign of the Fuller Government, io ho taken next September. A bitter fight is expected. The opposing camps are already busy preparing for Hie battle. A MEMORIAL. ADELAIDE, Dec. 12. Before a large representative gathering in Cresswell Gardens, adjoining Adelaide Oval, the Lieut.-Governor, Sir George Murray, unveiled a memorial to Sir Ross-Smitb. The memorial is an imposing work, and consists of a bronze life size statue of Ross-Smitb in tbe uniform of a military aviator, standing on a globe representing tbe world, with one foot on ‘England and the other on Australia. Incidents of bis great flight are depicted on four sides of the pedestal. Tbo mother of the dead airman, his brother. Sir Keith Smith and Lieut. Shield, who participated in the famous flight were present.

ADELAIDE TRAGEDY. ADELAIDE, Dec. 12. Alfred Benson, sTxty-ono. fatally .shot bis wife and then cut bis own throat with a razor, staggered twenty yards to a motor garage and blew bis head off with a shotgun, at their homo at Enfield.

Benfiekl had been under treatment for blood pressure for some time.

SIX NATIVES HANGED. .MELBOURNE, Dec. 12. A wireless message from Tulagai reports that six native principals in the Gaudalamar massacre of last February were hanged at Tulagai gaol this morning.