KING LIFTS SUSPENSION

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 29 September 1933, Page 9

KING LIFTS SUSPENSION

BECHUANALAND NATIVE CHIEF CONSENT TO RESTRICTION. NO ACTION WITH EUROPEANS SEQUEL TO FLOGGING CASE (British Official Wireless.) ’ Received 1.30 p.m. to-day. RUGBY r , Sept. 28. In accordance with the advice of the Secretary for Dominion Affairs the King has been graciously pleased to terminate the period during which Tshekedi is suspended from the exercise of hiisi functions as acting chief of the Bamaugwato in Bechuanaland. Tshekedi will be reinstated as acting chief at Serowe by the High Commission as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made. The decision follows a. full consideration of the case in which Tshekedi was suspended after an inquiry had shown that he had exercised his powers m flogging the white man, Phineas McIntosh, and that in claiming he had a

right to- do so lie was attempting to .put himself above the law. A Dominions’ Office communique states the High Commissioner has received from Tshekedi a communication in which he stated: “I had not taken the step regarding Mclntosh with the intention of raising an issue on the point of jurisdiction affecting my court, but I have been compelled in the interests of just administration and the o-ood of my people, to order' the punishment of 'Mclntosh. I hereby abandon any right to deal with a case in which a European is concerned and I undertake not to deal with any European case in future. In order to- remove any misapprehension I have to ■state that I did not and will not claim to be immune from the laws of the ■protectorate as now in force or as may be hereafter in force. No one could regret more than I do what has occurred and I desire to assure the Hugh Commissioner that I would at all times work in harmony and loyal co-opera-tion with the administration.” As regards the first paragraph of the communication, the High Commissioner has -ordered a separate inquiry as to whether there has been a failure of the administration to deal adequately with the offences committed by Mclntosh and other Europeans. From this inquiry it appears that during 1930-32 one conviction for assault against McIntosh and three against a man named McNamee were obtained. In 1932 complaints by Tshekedi and others as to the association of Mclntosh and McNamee with native women were temporarily dropped owing to the actingchief’s' failure to respond to requests to collect evidence and the absence of evidence justifying action under proclamation 8 of 1929. . In March, 1933, on a complaint from a European resident, a magistrate -severely reprimanded Mclntosh in the presence of witnesses. No complaint wa-s made to the resident magistrate after this incident. On no occasion did Tshekedi refer to the -conduct of these or any other Europeans, nor did he make any complaint as to inaction ol- inadequate action by the administration. Nevertheless, in view of the statements in the latter part of Isne-kedi’-s communication, the High Commissioner has recommended to the Secretary for Dominion Affairs that His Majestv should be advised to terminate forthwith the period during which Tshekedi is suspended. A Cape Town message says that Tshekedi’® reinstatement has given o-eneral satisfaction. Tshekedi arrives at Cape Town to-morrow intending to sail for England. . Tshekedi’s reinstatement occasioned an astonishing demonstration at a congregational assembly at Nottingham. The audience rose to its feet and applauded, later singing the Doxology in thanksgiving. The chairman, Doctor -Sleep, said the news was such as to “make -the bells of heaven ring.”