FIJIANS IN FIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 26028, 17 February 1947, Page 6

FIJIANS IN FIGHT

MELEE IN MAIN STREET CONSTABLE'S ACTION COMMENDED Three dusky Fijians, two of whom staged a fight in the centre of the city late on Saturday night before the third joined in the melee, and in doing so kicked out at a constable and also tore his mackintosh raincoat, were before the Police . Court to-day ; After the story of the fracas •.(in- which, civilians joined in an effort to stop it) had been related to Mr J. D. Willis, S.M., His Worship commended the action of Constable A. L. Aitchison in coping with the situation alone until the arrival of police reinforcements. The Magistrate fined the Fijians, all off the vessel Salamaua, ‘and in doing so said that he was taking a lenient view of the offences because the accused were natives.

Akulia Cama, a greaser on the ship, and George Lolomai, quartermaster, were charged with fighting -one another, Cama pleading guilty and Lolomai denying the offence. Lolomai also pleaded not guilty to a charge of mischief (damaging Constable W. J. Taylor’s raincoat) and to assaulting Constable Taylor. Mathew Suraru pleaded not guilty to. a charge of obstructing Constable Aitchison. When Constable Aitchison came on the scene of the fight, near the Government Tourist Bureau, about 11 p.m., Cama and Lolomai had come to grips on the ground, and Suraru, was standing over them, said Senior-sergeant J. H. Hogg. The constable took hold of Suraru, ' and several civilians among the crowd that had gathered became involved with the other two Fijians. Constable Taylor had coroe on to the scene, and when \ he attempted to separate Cama 'and Lolomai the latter lashed out, although it was doubtful if he knew that he kicked the constable. Soon after, the raincoat was torn.

Constable Aitchison gave evidence (corroborated by Constable Taylor) and said that two. civilians: joined in the fray, which shifted round the corner into Princes street. While Lolomai and Cama were still in grips, said the constable, he tripped them both up and kept them down until the arrival of other police reinforcements. -All three had been drinking. The Magistrate said that Constable Aitchison had done very v/ell in the circumstances, and that the Fijians could have* caused a lot .more trouble if the constable had not stuck to them until assistance arrived. In the case of these men it was more, salutary to inflict a fine than imprisonment. Lolomai was fined £2 for- fighting, 10s for assault, and 'was ordered to make restitution of £2 12s - 6d, the value of the constable’s coat. Cama was fined £2 for fighting, and Suraru was fined £2 for. obstructing Constable Aitchison. .