O. F. NELSON TRIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 6, 8 January 1934, Page 3

O. F. NELSON TRIAL.

ARMED PARADES OF MAU.

WERE POLICE INDISCREET?

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) APIA, January C. The hearing of the case against Olaf Frederick Nelson, who is charged with breaches of the Samoan Seditious Organisations Regulations, was continued in the High Court at Apia before the Chief Judge, Mr. J. H. Luxford. PoliceInspector Braisby was still under crossexamination. Witness produced police records relating to assaults on the police between June and December, 1929. Evidence was given also of the use of batons by the Mau and parades of the Mau armed with knives. Defendant sought to elicit by crossexamination that, acting on warrants of arrest issued in respect of men wanted when a clash occurred on December 28, 1929, the police provoked trouble. Witness explained that a permit was given for a procession, subject to the warning that if wanted men were brought in the police would attempt to arrest them. Witness further stated that ifter December, 1929, when warships arrived, the Mau took to the bush. From the police point of view the situation had improved, as an adequate force existed to control the situation, and also there was legislation passed assisting further control. Defendant suggested that cases relating to assaults on police did not prove that the actions were those ordered or adopted by the Mau leaders as a matter of policy, but were acts of individuals. Witness repeated that assaults were perpetrated by Mau members. Questioned by the Chief Judge, defendant stated that he did not question the justification of the police action in attempting the arrests, but he thought perhaps discretion might have been exercised in December, 1929, as on previous occasions. The Chief Judge replied that the police had to act on Court processes at such a time as they thought fit and proper. Responsibility for the clash lay with the Samoans, who had disregarded the warning not to bring in wanted men. , The Court adjourned until Monday.