MURDERED ABORIGINALS

Evening Star, Issue 19722, 24 November 1927, Page 6

MURDERED ABORIGINALS

REPUTATION GF AUSTRALIA INVOLVED, MINUTE BY BOARD OF MISSIONS POLICE OFFICIALS STILL IN SERVICE, Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, November 24. (Received November *!4, at noon.) The Australian Board of Missions at a public meeting at Chapter House, discussed the alleged murder of aboriginals in and around the Eorcst River Mission in 192 G. It was declared that the question was one which involved the reputation of the Australian people throughout the world. The meeting then unanimously carried a minute which was despatched to the Premier of Western Australia pointing out that serious reflections were cast upon the public honor by the retention as officers of those persons against .whopi an indictment was made by the Commissioner who investigated the alleged murders. The minute added that the circumstances had' been widely commented upon in the Empire and far beyond its bounds. The national character of the Australian people was brought to tho bar of judgment of the civilised world, and that judgment was bound to be given with regard to tho action taken upon the findings of the Commissioner. The minute then quoted a statement by tho ' Commissioner that four aborigines met their ■ deaths; and were burned near Jlaia, about tho end of June, while in the custody of two constables, and that the only persons responsible for their deaths were the two constables. Then the minute continues by- stating, that the fact that the verdict of murder could not bo found in the court of law does not lessen the gravity of the finding, and there is a serious rellcclion upon the public honor by the fact that persons against tvhom such an indictment was made are still retained in the service of the State as officers for tho maintenance of law and order.

The Rev. Gribblc, addressing the meeting, stated that 42 natives lost their lives in that Western Australian police expedition, and livo of them were women. He added that he knew tho-.spot where 22 men and women were shot on a chain, after being in captivity for two days. Ho concluded by saying that neither tlio church nor the State was doing its duty in tho matter.