STORY OF RIOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1930, Page 9

STORY OF RIOT.

CHARGES DENIED

Administrator Replies To Mr. Polley's Assertions. MAU WARNED OF ARRESTS. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The Prime Minister announced to-night that a copy of the cablegram to Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., with reference to Western Samoa, which was published to-day had been transmitted by wireless to the Administrator of Samoa, who had been requested to comment on it point by point. Following is a copy of the Administrator's reply, received to-night. Fred Poilley arrived at Apia by the December voyage of the Tofua, and was employed for ten days by the Public Works Department. He stayed with a native Mau man, and left by the last voyage of the Tofua with Mr. Hall Skelton. One arrest only was attempted, and the police fitid not lire until attacked. Sergeant Fell was knocked senseless and others batoned and stoned. No riflemen, police or otherwise, were on the Courthouse verandah. Some police, including Constable Abraham, who, had been cut off from the main party, ran back down the alley when Abraham was killed, and these used revolvers. The Lewis gun fired one burst only over the heads of the crowd down Ifi Ifi Street, where, by rifle fire, Tamasese and one other were fatally injured and two others wounded. The Lewis gun fired no burst into Apia native village, but one over the village and one into the ground in front of the police station to stop attack from that direction. No women or children were wounded or at any time in danger from fire, and the two boys reported to have been killed were full-grown, and one who had recently been involved in a stoning attack was shot in Ifi Ifi Street. Tamasese came from-the middle of the procession and may have tried to stop the attack on the police station, but was shot in the lQad. He was not deliberately sniped, and if he was calling out to the mob he would use the Samoan language, which Polley did not understand. Matau, the man whose arrest was attempted, and Autagavaia have been both wanted for some time, but never appeared in Apia and were kept hidden by the Mau. At the inquest, Krause (an adherent of the Mau) gave evidence that he was warned by Mr. Braisby, the inspector of police, and, in turn, warned Tamasese that the wanted- men would be arrested if in the procession. The attempt made by Mr. Hall Skelton and others to work up a meeting failed entirely, and I think the general feeling supports me. Can Polley in Suva know what was published in New Zealand? Please note that the medical evidence shows that no pePsou treated at the hospital received more than one wound, which discounts the machine gun story. Also Polley could not see both the point where Tamasese was killed and Apia native village at the same time. Also in evidence at the inquest, Tuimalealiifano (one of the leading Mau chiefs) stated that the Mau had warning of arrest, but nevertheless the wanted men were paraded, and, further, that the Mau Committee gave instructions to. resist arrest if the police went to Vaimoso to arrest Matau or anyone else. Full inquiry is being made at the inquest into all the circumstances, and 'every opportunity is being given to call evidence. The inquest will probably be finished to-morrow, and I expect the verdict on Saturday.