SAMOAN FRACAS

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 21 January 1930, Page 5

SAMOAN FRACAS

WARNING OF ARREST POLICE INSPECTOR’S MESSAGE. DELIVERY TO TAMASESE. (United Press Association—By Electric Tclcgrapt Copyright.) Received 11 a.m. to-day. APIA, Jan. IS. At the resumption of 'the inquest on the victims of the disturbance of December 28, Ivruse, a director employed by Nelson, stated that on the morning of December 27 he asked the Inspector of Police for permission for Messrs Smyth and Skelton to land at the Apia wharf, explaining it was more convenient. Ho told the inspector that the Mau procession was coming to Apia on December 2S. He remembered the in-

specter saying that if the wanted men were in tne procession they would be arrested, and if the arrests were effected and the Mau resisted a lot of lighting might result. The police were determined to get the wanted men. The inspector told witness to inform the Man not to -bring the wanted men in the procession. Witness replied he was not the legal representative of the Mau, but lie promised to tell the Mau if lie saw.any of its members. Permission was granted by telephone on the afternoon of December 27 for the landing at Apia. Later witness saw Tamasese to arrange a reception and passed on the inspector's message. Tamasese said: .“Very will, I will talk it over with the others this evening. ” On the following morning, December 28, witness saw the procession of 300 members of the Mau. He saw the socalled Mau police carrying batons. Sua, one of the wounded Samoans, in hospital stated he was in -the procession. He saw a policeman attempt to arrest Matau. A general mix-up oecurred and blows were struck on both sides. He saw the policeman fall, but did not know the cause. He did not see who- was first struck.

Tie police then fired revolvers and ■the Man used stones. The shooting ceased and the police retired ito the station. He did not see the constable .who was killed. Witness saw Tamasese with an umbrella in his hand calling on the Mau to keep the peace. 'He saw Tamasese hit by one single, distinct shot before a burst from a machine gun occurred. He Tushed to assist Tamasese, when he (witness) was hit by what he thought was the first machine gun burst. He thought Faualo and Tuia were also hit by this burst. He did not see anybody killed outright. Faualo, another wounded Samoan in hospital, stated be was in the procession opposite the market when the first shots were fired. He continued towards the courthouse and saw Tamsese waving his umbrella and calling to the people to keep the peace. He saw Tamesose fall and, with others, went to his assistance. When he was lifting Tamasese his leg was hit by a bullet from the machine gun burst. He was wounded before Sua and Tuia were hit.

He said the purpose of the .40 Mau police in the procession was to keep the peace. The chief Tiumalialiifano stated that when the possession passed the courthouse the police rushed in and attempted to break through it and . arrest Matau. They .were prevented by the Mau police by pushing. They (the heads of the Mail) instructed their police to keep the other police back quietly without force. Shots were fired immediately afteT the breaking through took place., Witness was calling on the procession to keep the peace when he was hit. Stones were thrown in the general mixup. To Mr Slipper, witness said that before leaving Vaimoso he instructed the committee not to bring the wanted men to'* town. When he joined the procession at the Customs House he was surprised to see the wanted men present. To the Coroner he said it was correct that when the police tried to arrest anyone they were generally resisted by the people of the village under instructions from the Mau committee. If the police went to Vaimoso to arrest anyone they wore to be resisted forcibly, and if the police got the wanted men they could have them.

nave tnem. NOTICE OP ARRESTS DENIAL BY SOLICITOR. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. Jan. 20. Air Half Skelton, solicitor, who arrived by the Tofua 'to-day, said the ‘night of Taniaseso’s funeral saw a large force q-f fighting men arrive. With great strength they appeared from out of tilio darkness. “The high chief Faumuma and myself Jia,d the greatest- -possible difficulty in -staying their hand in talcing the heads of the Administrator la.ndt the |;o.ice. which they could quite easily have done,” said Air Skelton. “The Administrator little knew liow close they were to decapitation. They evidently were greatly afraid, as they were barricading the ponce quarters, and a force was 'posted to protect the Administrator and they were calling! on civil officials to take up rifles. “The Samoans were so tboroughly enraged at the death of what they termed their ‘beloved King’ Tamusese that it was marvellous how they die-i sist-ed from revenge. “At mv last meeting wi|th the 20 chiefs they opened their meeting with prayer: Through, an interpreter I foil ml out what their fervent prayers were. The main theme throughout was •Father, i'orgiv.e them, for they know not what they do,’ -and calling for assistance to give them strength to quiet them so as not to stain .their hands with 'the- 'blood: of murderous revenge. One old chief was particularly pathetic when lie prayed to be given the 'light to understand why it was necessary to have them murdered, land whether it was wrong to require an eye for an eye from the police. “To, sav there was a riot was absurd. Pbe matter was all over before a riot could- happen. To say they gave notice to the Alan that the wanted men would be arrested was well known to be untrue, and the mere afterthought to say that Constable Abraham was cheeped down with an axe, another beaten to death and that this, was the cause of the- police firing was untrue. “When an old . man named Westbrook o called at the office of the Administration and said:, ‘I enter my protest against this outrage as a Britisher’ the Administrator ordered his iin mediate arrest. He wa s roughly handled, although very old and half blind, and was locked up. Apparently ■ three hours later the Administrator ordered his release without a charge. Westbro-oke is issuing a writ for £IOOO ;

against Colonel Allen for alleged illegal arrest.” MESSAGE TO LABOUR LEADER AUTHOR NOT AT INQUEST. WELLINGTON, Jan. 19. The Press Association was advised by special radio message from Apia on Saturday afternoon that Frederick Polley, author of the cable message to Mr H. F. Holland, M.P., did not offer himself as a witness at the inciuest into the deaths of victims of the riot. He arrived at Apia on December 13 and departed on January 10. While in Samoa he lived with the Samoans at Vaimea. [Frederick Polley in his message to Mr Holland said he was in Apia when the shooting affray took place on December 28. He declared that the police fired on the mass of people almost simultaneously with the attempted arrests, and that stones were , not thrown until a number of the Samoans had been shot down.]