SAMOA CENSORSHIP

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1930, Page 5

SAMOA CENSORSHIP

OFFICIAL VERSION

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. With reference to the suggestion that .the news of the situation in Western Samoa is being heavily censored, Sir Joseph WavJ states that all official reports of recent events in the territory have lyeen made available to the press. He says that the Administrator is no doubt awaiting the results of the inquests to forward any further details which would .he authoritative as found by the Coroner's inquiry.

Sir Joseph stated that it is understood that one very long message, wlijcli was presented bv the local Alan organ, the Samoa “Guardian,” was refused transmission, as being so inaccurate as to be mischievous; hut neither the Government nor the Administrator approved of unnecessary interference with messages, and indeed it was clear that at least one very long and detailed account of the riots was actually dispatched to a newspaper in Australia. The only request for facilities to be afforded a New' Zealand press representative to proceed to the, territory was immediately acceded to by the Government, and that representative is on his way to the territory in the warship Dunedin. The Government, lie said, naturally cannot see its way to abolish the right of censorship altogether in the existing state of affairs, but the public and press may rely upon it that there will be no interference with any message to the press or otherwise that is fair and accurate.

MR. HOLLAND’S MESSAGES,

WELLINGTON, Jan. 10,

The Press Association’s Apia correspondent telegraphs tlmt Mr Holland’s statement that his messages have been barred by the Censor on tile ground of partisanship is incorrect, ami that all of his messages have been ipasesd by the Censor.

APIA MEETING CANCELLED

APIA, Jan. 9

A public indignation meeting which was to have been held to-night to discuss the police action of December 28, was cancelled, owing to lack of public support.