THE PROPHET RUA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1532, 6 April 1916, Page 4

THE PROPHET RUA.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT,

ALE PEACEFUL EFFORTS FAIL. PRAISE FOR THE POLICE. In conversation with a Wellington Post reporter on Tuesday morning, the Hon. A. L- Herdman, Minister in Charge of Police, briefly stated the circumstances which made it necessary for a force of police being despatched to effect Rua’s arrest.

“Some considerable time ago,” said Mr Herdman, “warrants for arrest were issued against Rua in connection with certain charges upon which he had been convicted by a Magistrate. He defied the authorities, and it became necessary to take steps to arrest him. Clearly, the Crown is bound to see that the law is obeyed by all citizens without distinction, and just as the pakeha must yield obedience to it, so must the Maori respect it. “A few weeks ago Sergeant Cummings, of Rotorua, and Constable Grant went into the Urewera country for the purpose of arresting Rua, but when they came into contact with him violence was threatened, and they considered it prudent not to interfere with him until his arrest could be accomplished with a moderate degree of safety.

“The Government then decided to ask the Hon. Mr Ngata, whose electoral district includes the Urewera, to visit Maungapohatu and point out to Rua the wisdom of submitting peacefully to the police. Mr Ngata was good enough to undertake this mission, and he did his utmost to convince Rua that by defying authority he was only pursuing a policy which meant certain disaster in the future.

“Rua refused to listen to the sound advice tendered to him, but intimated that he would like to see a Minister. So that all peaceful means of getting him to comply with the law should be exhausted, it was decided that I, as Minister in charge of Police, should go to Ruatahuna. Accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, I visited the Urewera about two weeks ago, and invited Rua to meet me there and surrender to the police. He refused to come, and we then decided to send an adequate force of police to Maungapohatu to capture him. Accordingly the expedition was organised and despatched.

“It will be seen that every effort was made to induce this law-breaker to submit himself to the law peacefully, but he contemptuously defied the authorities, and the only course left open was to send in a force to seize him. Besides, the man’s behaviour was calculated to have a bad effect upon, a certain section of the Urewera Natives. It was quite evident that drastic action ought to be taken immediately. Last night I received a telegram from the Commissioner of Police notifying me that Rua and six other Natives had been arrested by the force which we despatched, and giving the good news that the injured policemen, who are under the care of a competent doctor, are progressing favourably. “Everything possible will be done to secure the comfort of the injured men, and to bring about their speedy restoration to health. Commissioner Cullen and his men have performed their difficult duty just'as one who knows them well would expect them to do it. Their courage and discretion deserve the warm admiration of all who wish to see authority respected and mischievous lawbreakers brought to justice.”