TONGAN AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 66, 8 September 1911, Page 3

TONGAN AFFAIRS

: PECULIAR CASE. I By Telegraph —Press Association. Auckland, Yesterday. The High Commissioner's Court of the Western Pacific occupied six days at Tonga with an action on behalf of four thousand members of the native Co-operative Association against tin* British Consul and two Government officials. The Court found there was nothing to prove that the Consul was the prime mover in the seizure of the. association's business, and dismissed the charge against the other defendants, Roberts and Humphreys, on the ground that, as thoy acted under Government authority, no action could be maintained against tliem. Plaintiffs gave notice of an appeal, which will be heard in Fiji. It is stated that the decision caused serious disquietude among the natives, an<l only the presence of British waffships prevented a serious disturbance. The trustees of the association applied to the Chief Justice to declare the ordinance to restrain and contra 1 the native company illegal. He upheld the legality of the ordinance, and the result was a requisition to the King to dismiss the Chief Justice, but the King declined to do bo. The Cabinet met and discussed the question of the dismissal, and a divided meeting ended in a deadlock. Later, Mr. "Roberts, Auditor-Clen-eral, was dismissed from office.