SAMOAN TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1930, Page 5

SAMOAN TROUBLE.

PREMIER IN REPLY

REPLIES ON OFFICIAL VERSION

DENIAL OF POLICE AGGRESSION

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

"WELLINGTON, January 17

When the telegram received by Mr FI. E. Holland from Mr Frederick Poolle.v, regarding the Apia roit on 28th December was referred to the Prime Minister this afternoon, he indicated that its contents were completely at variance with the officaii reports which lie received. He said: These reports indicate' definitely that the first party of four police who were detailed to arrest certain men wanted on warrant for assaulting police (and not for non-payment of taxes) were entirely unarmed with either batons or revolvers. The supporting party of three police was armed with revolvers as was also the main covering party who were in reserve at the police station, which party came into action only when the first party was mauled. The official reports are quite clear that there was no shooting whatever before the lives of the police were in imminent danger, and that the police acted with the greatest forbearance and restraint.

V Sir Joseph added. The crisis was pre•hhtated by the Mau’s action in deliberately flaunting in front of Administration offices men wanted on warrant after a specific warning had been issued to the Man the previous day that these men should not he paraded through the town. The issue plainly was whether or not the law should prevail.

Tin* Prime Minister also stated:— Tamasese, who, according to the press reports was against the parading of these men, was nevertheless a party to the step that was taken, and though he was amongst the rioters, it is impossible to say, until the conclusion of the inquest, whether he was, or was not., endeavouring to restrain his followers. It is understood that the inquest has,been postponed for the piodeletion of the Mali evidence . The public should await the result of this inquiry before accepting as authoritative any version of fact .n the meantime The official reports are as indicated

With reference to the allegation that the machine gun was directed against the natives, Sir Joseph Ward emphasised that the official reports were' distinctly to the effect that this was not the case, and that the machine gun fire was never at any time directed against the natives, but was used merely for moral effect, and no casualties whatever had been reported as the result of the machine gun fire, and the official reports make no reference to the alleged use of these weapons against the women and children, or to any casualties amongst the hoys.

Sir Joseph added that lie was referring to a copy of this message to the Administrator, and that his reply to these very serious allegations would be published immediately on receipt.

A DMINISTR ATOP’S 11EP L Y

WELLINGTON, Jan. 18,

The Prime Minister announced last night that a copy of the cablegram to Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., had been transmitted by wireless to the Administrator at Samoa, who had been requested to comment on it point by point. The following* is a copy of the Administrator’s reply received late last night:— “Frederick Pulley arrived at Apia bv the Decombre voyage of the Toi'ua and was employed for ten days by the Public Works Department. He stayed with a native Mau mail and left by the last voyage of the Tofua with Hall-Skelton.’’

One arrest only was attempted and the police did not lire until attacked. Sergeant Fell was knocked senseless and others were batoned and stoned.

No riflemen, police or otherwise, were on the Courthouse veiandali. Some police, including Abraham, who had been cut off from the main party, ran back down an alley, when Alnaham was killed, and these used revolvers.

The Lewis gun fired one burst only over the heads of the crowd, down Iff Iff street ,where by rifle hie Tamascso and one other were fatally injured and two others wounded. The Lewis gun fired no burst into Amu native village, but one over the village and one into the ground i front of the. police station to stop an attack from that direction. “No women or children ' were wounded or iff any time in danger from the fire and the two hoys reported killed were full-grown, .f uel one who had recently been involved in a stoning attack was shot in In lh street.’’ , Tamascso came from the middle of the procession and may have tried to stop the attack on the police station, but he was shot in the road. He was not deliberately sniped and if he v.a.s railing out to the mob he would use the Samoan language which Policy does not understand. - ’ Mntnu (the man whose arrest was attempted) and Autagavnia had been both wanted for some time, hut h" never appeared in Apia and voie kept hidden by the Man. At the inquest on Kruse (an advert of Alan) gave evidence that ho was warned hv Braisby (Inspector of Police) and in turn warned Taninsose, that, the wanted men would be arrested if in the procession. The attempt made by Hall-Skelton

and others to work up a. meeting failed entirely and .1 think the general feeling supports me.”

Can Policy in Suva, know what was published in New Zealand. Please note that the medical evidence shows no person treated at hospital received more than one wound, which discounts the machine gun story. Also Policy could not see both the point where Tamasese was killed, and the Auia native village at the same time.” Also in evidence at the inquest Tuimalealufano (one of the leading Man chiefs) stated that the Man had warning of the arrest, but nevertheless the wanted men were paraded and further that the Man Committee gave instruct* ions to resist arrest, if the police went to Vaimoso to arrest Matau or anyone else.

A full inquiry being made at the inquest into all the circumstances and every opportunity given to call evidence..

The inquest will be finished to-morrow and I expect a verdict on Saturday.