TRUCE FOR CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 20421, 28 February 1930, Page 9

TRUCE FOR CONFERENCE

SAMOA PROCLAMATION MAU TO MEET MINISTER AND ADMINISTRATOR [Special to Press Association.] APIA, February 6. A Government proclamation, issued to-day, states that arrangements have been made for the Samoans of the Mau to oome to Vaimosa to meet the Administrator and the Hon. J. G. Cobbe. The meeting will be held not later than March ], and the conditions are that there will be no arrests of those coming to the conference, the naval and police forces not to be operative during the conference, villages to be exempt from searching during the same period, and the Mau not to take any action at the same time. POLICE REINFORCEMENTS READY £Pa* UtriTio Fees* Aesociatiox.l WELLINGTON. February 27. The Samoa Military Police Force at present encamped at Trentham is now at its full strength, and is ready to move at a moment’s notice. There are 264 of all ranks, and all are reported to be in the pink of condition. Originally the strength of the force was fixed at 260, but it was later decided to attach a wireless troop, consisting of an officer, a mechanic, and twelve operators from the Post and Telegraph Department. The platoon commanders are to be provided from the Territorial Force, four officers of which were appointed to-day to Major Weir’s staff. These were Captain J. V. Canty, M.M., Ist Battalion Wellington Regiment; Lieutenant E. 0. Schnackenberg, _ Northern Depot Corps, N.Z.E.; and Lieutenants A. H. Fear and E. W. Hayton, 2nd Cadet Battalion; Wellington Regiment. The complete personnel is now as follows:—Major N. W. M‘D. Weir, N.Z.5.0., in command; Captain G.' Dittmer, M.C., N.Z.S.C., second in command; Captains A. Bongard, M.C., J. G. C. Wales, M.C., and A. W. Greville, all of the N.Z.S.C.; Lieutenants Canty, Schnackenberg, Fear, and Hayton; Lieutenant E. P. Furkert, N.Z.S.C., medical officer; Lieutenant W. G. Ashbridge (Captain, Central Depot, N.Z. Corps of Signallers,' Wellington), wireless officer; lieutenant* G. H. Heal, N.Z.S.C., is also attached to the force. In addition, there are thirteen noncommissioned officers. These are as follows :-W.O. Baur (N.Z.P.S.), C.S.M. Thomson (N.Z.1.A.), C.S'.M. Patrick (N.Z.P.S.), W.O. M‘Murray (N.Z.P.S.), W.O. Middleton (N.Z.P.S.), W.O. Macan (N.Z.P. A.S.C.), W.O. Stewart (N.Z.P.S.), Staff-sergeant Steward (N.Z.P.S.), Staff-sergeant Holmes (N.Z.P.S.), Staff-sergeant Grieve (R.A.M.C.), Staff-sergeant Boult (R.N.Z.A.)* Sergeant Langehad (R.N.Z.A.), Sergeant Young (N.Z.P;S.).