EX-SAMOAN POLICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18199, 21 March 1921, Page 7

EX-SAMOAN POLICE

STATEMENT OF GRIEVANCE. (Feom Ode Own Coeeespondent.) WELLINGTON, March 18. An inquiry touching the position of those men who had returned from Samoa after serving in the police there was addressed to the Minister of External Affairs (Mr E. P. I.ee) to-day by Mr T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), who asked for an explanation of the allegations of breach of contract by the Government with respect to them. The peculiarity of the law in regard to a number of thern was that they ’ were not able to take action against the Crown; Seeing that Parliament was the highest court in the land, h© suggested that it might give authority for the appointment of a magistrate to whom the men could address petitions in order that their cases might be investigated during the recess; the magistrate might then report to the Government whether a breach of faith had been committed or not. He had had a letter from one ofithese men pointing out thati there was no use presenting petitions to Parliament during the session, since there would be no committees to consider them. Mr Lee said that if there was any qu: jtion of a breach of contract he had no objection to giving the men the right to sue the Crown. He understood that there were petitions before the House for the consideration of these questions. o Mr Wilford: They cannot be considered. Mr Lee: No, they cannot. Mr Wilford: What are these men to do in the meantime? Mr Lee: I have considered these cases. In certain cases of hardship he had settled the matter with the men, and got a full receipt from them. Having got that much from him they have apparently petitioned the House. Perhaps among their number was Mr- Wilford’s correspondent. Mr Wilford said he thought the Minister was wrong in his conjecture concerning the writer of the letter he had received. The writer said he was given so many days’ pay which he had to. accept, because he hail to live. Did the Minister call that a receipt in full tor the liability?