POSITION IN SAMOA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20963, 28 February 1930, Page 9

POSITION IN SAMOA

GOVERNMENT PROCLAMATION. MAU INVITED TO CONFERENCE. (Special to Press Association.) APIA, February 26. (Received February 27, at 9 p.m.)' A Government proclamation, issued today, states that arrangements bate been made for the Samoans of the Mau to come to Vaimoso to meet the Administrator and Mr Cobbe. The meeting will be held not later than March 1, and \ the conditions are that there will be no arrests of those coming to the conference, the naval and police forces mot to be operative during the conference, villages to be exempt from searching during the same period, and the Mau not to take any action at the same time. MILITARY POLICE FORCE. READY FOR DEPARTURE. (Pee United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, February 27.The Samoa military police force at present encamped at Trentham is now at its full strength and is.ready to move at a moment’s notice. There are , 204 of all ranks and. all are reported to be in the pink of condition. Originally the strength of the force was' fixed at 250, but it was later decided to attach a wireless troop, consisting of an officer, a mechanic, and 12 operators from the Post and Telegraph Department. The platoon commanders are to be provided from the territorial force, four officers of • which were appointed to-day to Major Weir’s staff. These were Captain J. V. Canty, M.M., Ist Battalion; Wellington Regiment; Lieutenant E. C. Schnackenberg, Northern Depot Corps, N.Z.E.; and Lieutenants A. H. Fear and E. W. 1 Hayton, 2nd Cadet Battalion, Wellington Regiment. 1 ’ ' The complete personnel ■is now as follows:—-Maior N. W. M‘D. Weir, N.Z.S.C., in command; Captain G. Dittmer, M.C., N.Z.S.C., second in cominand ; Captains A. Bongard, M.C., J. G. C. Wales, M.C., and A..W, Greyille, all of the N.Z.S.C.; Lieutenants Cantv, Schnackenberg, Fear, and' Hayton;Lieutenant E.. P. Furkert, N.Z.S.C., medical officer; Lieutenant W. G. Ashbridge (Captain, Central "Depot N.Z. Corps of Signallers,. Wellington),'wireless officer; Lieutenant G. H. Heal, N.Z.S.C., is also attached to the force.. _ 1° addition, there are 13 non-commis- : sioned officers. These are as follows: W.O. Baur {N.Z.P.S.), C.S.M. Thomson (N.Z.LA.), C.S.M. Patrick (N.Z.P.S.), W.O. M'Murray {N.Z.P.S.); W.O. Mid- ’ dletou (N.Z.P.S.); W.O. Macan (N.Z;P. A.S.C.), W.O: Stewart . (N.Z.P.S.), Staff r Sergeant Steward (N.Z.P.S.), Staff Ser- ■ geant Holmes; (N.Z.P.S.), Staff Sergeant (S.A.M.C.), Staff Sergeant Boult Sergeant ; Langehad ■ (R.N.Z.A.), Sergeant Young (N.Z.P.S.).' ;