ASSAULT ALLEGED

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1934, Page 6

ASSAULT ALLEGED

BY NATIVES ON WHITE WOMEN

SOLOMON ISLANDS COMPLAINT

SUVA, February 7

, Reports have.,reached .Suva,from ’ the ■ Solomons that cases of by natives upon white women are becoming so common that there is a grave feeling of helplessness among the white, population. The whites are deeply, incensed by what tliey 'consider the ; ineffectual attempts made by, the Administration to stop- tjie., qffences. Natives proved guilty are imprisoned for a fovy months, but the whites contend, that as the natives while; id. prison; are well“fed and well looked after, 'prison for them is a pleasant change.. \yhen they come out of gaol, they boast : of what 'they have done, and so encourage others to follow their example . They are . regarded as heroes. At the last meeting of the Advisory Council the three unofficial members made a vehement protest against .the present attitude of the., officials. Tliey gave instances of such assaults,: and said - that of' something were, not done soon to remedy the • condition 1 stronger measures might be riecessary. They strongly advocated . flogging as the only way to end what was becoming a reign of terror. They said that prison ivas regarded by the natives as a jbke, and that the only thing they felt as a disgrace was the lash. The Resident promised that he would lay the matter befbre the High Commissioner, but meantime the assaults continue, and the ’ feeling among the whites is that before long some of the victims will use firearms in self-defence, or as a punishment to the offenders’! * The . general', opinion among the residents is one’ of amazement that the Administration is so loath to take drastic measures to! protect white women, who frequently have .to he left unprotected by their menfolk. , ?