A SAMOAN RUMOUR

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 134, 4 December 1919, Page 6

A SAMOAN RUMOUR

WHAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO

KNOW.

The Liberal.candidate for Wellington North, Mr. _H;;, O.".UBr6wne,;.,was asked •last night if^he:was;awar6-that an expeditionary "fo'rce-.of 80"soldiers was leaving New Zealand'on Thursday week for Samoa, the pay being 16s per day, wives and families being taken. "What is this force going for, and is Sir James Allen responsible?" asked the questioner. "I have heard something to-day about this expeditionary force," replied Mr. Browne, "but I cannot vouch for the full details. There have been rumours that on Thursday week an expeditionary force is to leave these shores, and the only reason I can see is the possibility of trouble over the enforcement of proliibition. No doubt they are getting worked up about it.

A voice: "Quite right,'.too." (Applause.) • ■ .

Mr. Browne: "I would not be surprised if there is something in it." Another voice: "Why spread the rumour?" .'. -

Mr. Browne: "Why spread the rumour? lam merely answering a question put to me. If the rumour is correct, why should not the public know? (Applause.) If we have to send a force to Sarnci we should most certainly be told about it.' The public has a right to know." (Loud applause:) ■. . The explanation of this "rumour" is simple. The Sajnoan Constitution Order provides, for the;,replacement of the military garrison by. a force of civil police. Sir' James Allen stated in Parliament on more than one occasion that this change would be made at the earliest possible date. Speaking at Milton on 21st November, Sir James Allen said (as reported in the Wellington papers of 22nd November) : "The occupying garrison _w.ilL .be brought away in December, and, in'order to preserve peace and quietness in the Islands, -70 able and splendid-men had been enlisted as civil police, and they were ready to go under a three-years' engagement. Half the number would be mounted, and the others would be foot police." These ■men are now concentrating in Wellington, and, in order to remove the military control at tie earliest possible moment, it has been arranged to send the force away in the December steamer, ■which will bring back to New Zealand the_Relief Force.which has been in occupation of the territory. Pay and conditions of service of the Samoaji..Constabulary have been based almost entirely on the regulations in operation for the New Zealand Police Force. It was deemed essential that the pay and conditions of the two forces should be as nearly as possible co-ordin-ated, in order to pave the way in future for the amalgamation of the two organisations, or at least make it possible to interchange the officers, on the lines laid down in the Samoan Constitution Order with respect to general public service.