NEW ZEALAND AND FIJI

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1533, 18 July 1901, Page 13

NEW ZEALAND AND FIJI

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. FURTHER INFORMATION PROMISED. On the 10th Captain Russell asked the Premier whether a copy of the resolution passed by the House on the 19th of October, 1900, recommending that a respectful address be presented to his Excellency the Governor praying that h© will forward a resolution to the Chief Secretary of State for the Colonies in favour of the incorporation of Fiji as an integral portion of this colony, had been forwarded t© his Excellency the Governor of Fiji, or the Government of Fiji, and if any reply had been received thereto ? The -PREMIER replied that the resolution had been referred to the Secretary of State, who had sent a reply; but the matter was not yet completed. The Governor of Fiji had been called upon to explain why he had traduced this colony, and, plainly put, the letter did not concur with the course h© had taken or the speeches he had made. The reply made matters worse, and showed that the reflection contained in the resolution was well-merited. The number of deaths which had occurred amongst the native population of Fiji was something appalling, and after the perusal of letters from the pen of a disinterested person who had gone down t^ ere s anyone must come to the conclusion that there was justification for the course taken. Mr Seddon pointed out that New Zealand was taking from Fiji about £350,000 worth of products annually, and sending there in return about £29,000. Australia took about £49,000 worth, and sent about £150,000; so that New Zealand at the present ti© lo was supporting and maintaining Fiji. Mr Seddon objected t© the action of the Governor of Fiji in instructing liis secretary to write to the Premier of New Zealand, and said that as Premier of New Zealand, he (Mr Seddon) knew what was due to him. When the Governor of Fiji wrote to the Governor of New Zealand to say anything t° the Premier of New Zealand in a proper and constitutional way, the Premier of New Zealand would deal with it. There were statements made which were absolutely incorrect. He had the fullest evidence, and when the matter was laid before the House h e thought they would agree that it was time that

the honour of this colony was vindicated.

HIGH-HANDED PROCEEDINGS. ACTING-CHIEF jUSLICE COMPELLED TO RESIGN. ACTION AGAINST THE GOVERNOR. From latest advices a most serious state of things exists iu Fiji. In consequence of Acting-Chief Justice .Edlin. refusing to allow Sir George O’Brien to interfere with his decisions on the Bench, he has been personally insulted by the Governor, compelled to resign his position, and the Govern o'r has appointed the Collector of Customs Chief Justice. Mr Edlin is the Attorney-General of the colony appointed by the King, and upon the departure of Sir Henry Berkeley on leave for England, Mr Edlin was appointed Acting-Chief Justice. He has been Attorney-General at Lagos under Sir Henry McCallum and Sir William McGregor had acted as Chief Justice of that colony on two occasions, and had administered th e Government there twice. Mr Edlin tendered his resignation, as ho told Sir George O’Brien, for the purpose of its being transmitted to the Secretary of State for the colony. He also informed the Governor that pending the decision of the Secretary of State, he was prepared to act as Chief Justice in order that there might be no miscarriage of justice. This offer the Governor refused, and appointed the Collector of Customs, Mr Ross. The criminal sessions have now commenced, and two men have already been convicted of murder, and will undoubtedly be hanged. On the opening day of the session, Mr Edlin appeared, and claimed his position as Attorney-General of the colony, and! Mr Humphrey Berkeley, as senior member of the English Bar, appeared to support the Crown law officers of the colony. Mr Edlin pointed out that he w»q Attorney-General appointed direct fro?£ Home by his Majesty the King, thax he had felt it his duty on account of the Governor endeavouring to intimidate him in his office, to resign his local appointment as Acting-Chief Justice, and also to send in his written resignation of the office of Attorney-General for trans< mission to the Secretary of State; buV that, pending the latter’s decision, he remained Attorney-General. He pointed out that, according to Ordinance, the information must be signed by him, and could only be presented by him ai Attorney-General; further, that, in his opinion, one of the informations before the Court was calculated t° lead to a miscarriage of justice, and he produced his commission from th© Secretary of State. Upon the Attorney-General resuming his seat, Mr Humphrey Berkeley, who is an English barrister, rose and supported him, pointing out that th© trial of men on charges of murder was a very serious thing in view of the information not being properly presented, and ©specially so if any prisoners were to be convicted and hanged. Mr Edlin then ros© again, and said that h© was willing to sign the indict* ments, and to prosecute then and there, Mr Ross over-ruled him, refusing to recognise him as Attorney-General of the colony. The correspondent gees on to say :—* It is impossible to exaggerate the seriousness of th e position in Fiji. On Saturday last Governor summoned a special meeting of the Council, and passed an Ordinance rendering any person liable to six months’ imprisonment with or without hard labour, and without the option of a fine, who, in th® opinion of any Magistrate, should “cause any Fijian to be disaffected towards th© Government, or attempt to induce any Fijian to take any action having fox its object the alteration of the present form of Government.” This Ordinance has been passed to prevent the six actions which are at present pending against the Government, and which have been issued by Mr Beddard ©n behalf of the natives of the island of Bega, whoso lands have been taken away from them by th e Governor, and turned into a leper asylum. Mr Burton, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, strongly opposed the passage of the Bill, pointing out that there was only one duly-qualified Magistrate in Fiji, and that to place such powers in the hands of one unqualified would be a souroe of serious danger to the public of Fiji. The correspondent goes further, and says:—“This is mor e especially so when the Governor, according to his usual custom, directs the magistrates as to the course they are to pursue. Mr Edlin has telegraphed Home to the Secretary of State 0 n the subject.” “ A short time ago,” the correspondent goes on to say, “ the Governor sent for Mr Edlin, the Attorney-General, and personally slandered Mr Humphrey Berkeley in a most serious way, and in consequence of this Mr Humphrey Berkeley has issued a writ against the Governor for £IOOO damages. An unique position now obtains, seeing that the Governor of the colony has been sued in his own Courts for slander.” Chief Justice Berkeley is now in England, and the Governor, Sir George O’Brien, is also leaving for England immediately.

Every man, woman “and child in Eng. land spends, on an average, Ml a year on furniture.