ALLEGATIONS REFUTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20482, 6 February 1930, Page 10

ALLEGATIONS REFUTED.

"PROPER STEPS TAKEN."

USE OF FIREARMS JUSTIFIED.

POLICEMEN IN JEOPARDY.

PRIME MINISTER'S VIEW.

[BY TELErtJtAFH. —OWIi CORRESPONDENT.] "WELLINGTON, "Wednesday.

A statement concerning the verdict of the inquest on the fatalities in Western Samoa was issued by the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, this evening. The Prime "Minister said he did not propose to compare the coroner's findings —the result of a very full and careful inquiry witii sworn evidence —with the exaggerated allegations that had been made in certain quarters, but he felt confident that every impartial observer must agree that these allegations had been effectively refuted by the coroner s verdict.

The Prime Minister added: —"In particular, the coroner finds that the precautionary measures taken by. the police Were reasonable and proper, that there was. serious active resistance to lawful arrest which endangered the lives of the arresting police, and that the use of firearms by the police was justified. It is also clear from the verdict that in spite of the sensational allegations on the subject, the use of the Lewis gun for moral effect led to no casualties whatever.

| "On the evidence put before him, however, the coroner was not convinced of the necessity for that portion of the police defence which was conducted by rifle fire, as distinct from the use of revolver and Lewis gun fire. It will be noted from the verdict that the rifles were fired from the police station (not from the courthouse, as has been alleged )_j that this took place immediately before and during the time that the Lewis gun was firing, and that as a result of this rifle fire the deaths of three Samoans, including Tamasese, occurred. The coroner adds, however, that in circumstances as then prevailing, it is inevitable that some action will be taken which may appear at the time to be justified, but when inquired into subsequently will be found to have been unnecessary.

"At the time rifle fire was used the Samoans, according to the finding of the coroner, were advancing against the police station from three directions and stoning it on the eastern side. The police, most of whom, the coroner finds, had already been -wounded and whose lives were still in jeopardy, were undoubtedly in a situation of great difficulty, repelling an attack by vastly superior numbers, and though their action in respect of this rifle fire was in the opinion of the coroner unnecessary, few people will find it possible to censure their judgment of the necessities of the situation in the pressing emergency then existing."

MINISTER FOR SAMOA.

OBJECT OF THE VISIT.:

DEPARTURE NEXT WEEK.

[BY TELEGRAPH.-t-PRESS association.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. » The Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, accompanied by his private secretary, Mr. F. G<- Matthews, will leave for Samoa by the Maui Pomare on Tuesday next. The object of the Minister's visit is stated to be to afford direct contact between the Cabinet and the Administrator, Mr. S. S. Allen, and to enable the latter to be advised at first hand at a time when he is unable to leava the territory of the Government's policy in regard to the activities of the Mau.

SIR A. NGATA NOT GOING.

NOT POSSIBLE AT PRESENT.

The Government has no intention of sending Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister of Native Affairs, to Samoa at present, according to advice received yesterday by Mr. J. S. Fletcher, M.P. for Grey Lynn. Yesterday morning Mr. Fletcher sent the following telegram to the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward:—"ln connection with the statement that the Hon. J. G. Cobbe is going to Samoa next week in connection with difliculties there, I would respectfully suggest that Sir Apirana Ngata be asked to accompany him. The great knowledge of the Minister of Native Affairs of Polynesian psychology would be worth a hundred gunboats in settling disputes." In reply Sir Joseph Ward telegraphed: —" I havo received your telegram and noto your representations regarding Samoa, but it is not possible to give effect to the suggestion at present." Mr. Fletcher said last evening that ho had only one comment to make concerning the reply, and that was: "There is no time like the present."