TAMASESE’S ARREST

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 538, 15 December 1928, Page 14

TAMASESE’S ARREST

EFFECT ON RECONCILIATION SAMOA AND ELECTIONS (THE SUN'S Correspondent) APIA, November 29. Tamases© not having responded to the invitation of the Administrator to meet him at Mulinu’s, the Administrator, accompanied by Captain Butterfield. A.D.C., and Inspector Braisby, of the civil police, motored early on the morning of November 22 to Vaimoso, the high chief's residence, accompanied by an armed guard of military police. Tamasese, however, was away at his plantation. When the Mau leader returned home five days later, a detachment of military police arrived and arrested him, lodging him under guard in the Apia police barracks. It is stated there was a slight disturbance during the arrest, and some minor injuries inflicted. During the day Tamasese appeared before the High Court, charged with non-payment of his poll tax, and the police asked for an adjournment; but Mr. Slipper pleaded guilty on behalf of the chief, who was then sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment. The prosecution indicated that further charges were pending, but no details are available to present. [Tamasese was subsequently charged with resisting arrest, and sentenced to a ‘ further six months’ imprisonment.—Ed., The Sun.] MAU STILL QUIET It is not expected that the imprisonment of the leader will incite the Mau toilowers to any overt acts. They will probably continue to pursue their peaceful policy of passive resistance and non-payment of taxes, armed with no more dangerous weapons than the conventional umbrellas, fly-swatters anc * f' an s. It is estimated that approximately 8,000 mule adults are tax defaulters, and although a new ordinance now imposes summary imprisonment without recourse to a summons and judgment proijeedings, the difficulty of enforcing, it throughout the territory is obvious. But the Tamasese incident is regarded by many as a blow to the reconciliation policy. As the former kings grandson, Tamasese ranks highest among the Mau chiefs, and his atonement for the sins of the taxdodgers will only intensify their sullen attitude, and stiffen .their resistance to the Administration. WHAT IS “ROTTEN” COPRA? A case of considerable local interest lias just been decided in the Hi fr h Court of Samoa, when two of the largest trading concerns, Messrs. Burns. JPhilp, and Co., Ltd., and Messrs. O. F Nelson and Co. Ltd., were prosecuted for buying and taking delivery of “rotten native copra. The charges against Burns-Pxiilp were taken first, and the paring of the case occupied two days. After contending that the copra 'in question was neither “bought” nor “taken delivery* of” in Apia, Mr, F D Baxter, solicitor for the defence, argued that the ordinance required the copra to be “rotten,” but did not define the term. The learned counsel quoted copiously from various standard dictionaries elaborating on the differing degrees and definitions of “rotten,” and m a long judgment Judge Woodward dismissed the charges of buying, but indicated that the others had vet in be answered. INTEREST IN N.Z. ELECTIONS Formerly general elections in the Dominion did not attract much interest here, but those of November 14 created quite a lot of excitement. It was uiouglit in official circles that the Loates Government would be returned with a reduced majority, but news 1 New Zealand hinted at a possible upset, and the correspondent of one local paper radioed a week before the elections that the prospects of Reform being defeated at the polls were “more than good.” The news of the political landslide, however, was quite unexpected, and the “Home Rulers” are now hopeful of more friendly relations being established between the Mau and the Mandatory. MR. NELSON AND GENERAL RICHARDSON fAb Hon. O. F. Nelson has arrived in bydne.v and expects to reach Auckland before Christmas, accompanied by his six daughters, who are now with l 1 Sydney. His appeal in the High Court here to test the validity of the deportation proceedings, and also against his removal from his elected position as Legislative councillor owing to “absence without leave,” has not yet been before the court, but will probably be held over until he has had a further opportunity of consulting with Sir John Findlay, K.C., his leading counsel in Wellington. Major-General Sir George Richardson. our former Administrator, has also arrived in Sydney from Geneva, travelling by the same line a fortnight later than Mr. Nelson. [Sir George has now arrived in Welllington.—Ed.. The Sun.] It is not known whether he will visit here before returning to New Zealand, but there is certainlj’- a lively prospect of a further clash between these two prominent figures in the Samoan unrest, and their battles here and in Geneva may soon start all over again in Xew Zealand. Much will depend on the attitude of the incoming Government, but it is sincerely hoped that a peaceful settlement may soon be arrived at.

The trio of Public Service specialists from New Zealand have been hard at work with their investigations and inquiries since their arrival, and it is expected they will be completed in time f°P them to return home on the next sailing of the Tofua. With the looming of a brand new Administration in Xew Zealand, there is a feeling of what an Australian once called “weird expectancy” about the administrative service here, and also a marked feeling* of apprehension as to what Xew Year’s “gifts” 1929 will bring forth.