APPEAL FOR SALAMAS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1931, Page 6

APPEAL FOR SALAMAS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER HIS IMMEDIATE RELEASE SOUGHT ‘ ' a CONSIDERATION BY THE CABINET MATTER FOR THE PRISONS BOARD. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Feilding, Last Night. An appeal for the release of Abraham Wally Mohammed Salaman was the subject of a deputation of about 50 persons from Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Manawatu and Taranaki which waited on the Hpn. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Justice, to-day. The deputation was headed by Mr. J. G. Brechin, Pahiatua. Generally the speakers claimed there had been a miscarriage of justice at the trial at New Plymouth, when Salaman was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment for manslaughter. The question arose during the hearing of the deputation whether Salaman was exclusively a herbalist as one speaker stated. The Minister questioned the speaker who replied that in Taranaki they all understood Salaman was a herbalist purely and simply. Every speaker gave testimony of wonderful cures wrought by Salaman. In every case the patient had been treated without success by the medical profession. The sufferers seemed to be principally affected (before Salaman cured them) with skin diseases, goitre and kidney troubles. The deputation appealed fori the release of Salaman in order that he might continue the treatment of those partly cured under his care and that he might carry on his work for the benefit of suffering humanity. ‘ The Minister in reply said the members of the deputation were apparently very earnest and honestly believed every word they had said. He would point out that Salaman had been tried according to the ordinary methods of British justice, . had been defended by one of the most eminent counsel in New Zealand, was convicted on a charge of manslaughter by a New Plymouth jury with a recommendation to mercy. That fact had been referred to as one of the reasons for the light sentence.

They had to remember, continued Mr. Cobbe, that Salaman had been in trouble before. In 1927 he was convicted at Auckland, fined substantially and ordered to come up for sentence if called on. The Minister pointed out that Salaman was not a 1 herbalist, and that the medicines he gave were ordinary medicines. That fact was proved in the recent case. The police had seized the medicines, had them analysed and found they were the usual drugs obtainable from wholesale chemists. It seemed that so far as New Zealanders understood medical science Salaman was not acquainted with their methods. He did not seem to have the knowledge New Zealand doctors were supposed to possess (ironical hear! hears!). The Minister explained the position with regard to Salaman. The exercise of the Royal prerogative was a very.. difficult matter. The only statutory authority for reviewing the sentence was the Prisons Board; Cabinet could not intervene. At the same time he felt that in view of the statements of the deputation he would not be doing, his duty if he did not lay the matter before Cabinet (loud applause). However, he told the deputation • not to go away with the idea that Cabinet would intervene. It was a serious matter and the Prisons Board would have to review the case. The usual practice. was z to review a case after half the sentence had been served and then to make a recommendation if it was thought advisable.