SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 136, 21 March 1930, Page 5

SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

A CHARGE DISMISSED. NOT GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER. (By Radio—Special to Press Assn.) APIA, March 19. Lance-Corporal Ricketts to-day was acquitted by the Court of four assessors of manslaughter relative to the death of a Samoan named Molia, who was shot by Lance-Corporal Ricketts during the affray with the police _on January 22, and who died on the 27th in Apia Hospital. The Court’s finding was that LanceCorporal Ricketts was justified in firing at Molia for protection, believing that his life was in danger. FOUR CHIEFS IMPRISONED. ANOTHER NATIVE SENTENCED. APIA, March 19. Four chiefs—Namulauulu, Leleua, Autagavaia, and Alipia—for (1) Sending a letter containing a threat to kill Lagolago and Ainuu Tasi, and (2) conspiring and attempting to pervert, obstruct, and defeat the course of justice in the case of Nelson versus “New Zealand Herald,” were each convicted and sentenced to seventeen, months’ imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. The wanted Samoan, Tupuivao. was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment for , assault on Constable Peterson in January of last year at Magiagi. When Constable Peterson tried to arrest him, Tupuivao, who was running from t lie constable, struck a back-hand blow with a long knife, causing a deep wound in the constable’s head, necessitating a fortnight in hospital and an absence from duty for seven weeks.

STATEMENT BY PREMIER.

ADDITIONAL POLICE NOT NEEDED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 20. The following statement with reference to the situation in Western. Samoa was issued by the Prime Minister to-night:— “On his return from Western Samoa the Hon. J. G. Cob be had a long discussion oii the situation with me at Rotorua, , and subsequently the question was discussed at a meeting ol Cabinet to-day. Air Cobbe explained that the leaders of the Mau movement who have lor the past two or three years refused to meet the Administrator in conference assembled at Vaimosa and met the Administrator (Cononei S. S. Allen), the Minister for Defence, and Commodore Blake, on March 3 and the four following days. The final result of the conference is that the majority of the members of the Man have returned to their viidages. The men wanted for various offences came in a body and .surrendered themselves to the police lor trial. It is likely that on an early date convenient to all parties, the Administrator and a number of representative chiefs will meet in l'ono for the discussion of matters of importance to Samoa. , “In view of the improved situation, the Government lias decided that it will he unnecessary for the - force ol military police now at Trenthani to proceed to the territory, and they are accordingly being disbanded forthwith. The Government and the Administrator intend to exert every effort- to ensure that the present promising condition of affairs is fully maintained, and nothing will be wanting on their part to meet any legitimate complaints by Samoans. “It is to be hoped that the misleading propaganda carried on from New Zealand, which has done so much both lo promote and to continue the discord in Samoa, will now cease. Tt would be a crime if the prospect of permanent peace in that country were shattered bv the work of a few outsiders.”