TONGAN AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143594, 7 September 1911, Page 3

TONGAN AFFAIRS.

AN INTERESTING CASE. Per Press Association. ■ AUCKLAND, Sept; 7. The High Commissioner’s Court of the Western Pacific occupied six days at Tonga with an action on behalf of four thousand members of the Native Co-operative Association against the British consul and two Government officials. The court found there was nothing to prove that the consul was the prime mover in the seizure of the association’s business, and dismissed the charge against the other defendants, Roberts and Humphreys, on the ground that, as they acted under Government authority, no, action could .be maintained against them. Plaintiffs gave notice of an appeal, which will be heard in Fiji. It is stated that the decision caused serious disquietude among the natives, and only the presence of British warships prevented a serious disturbance. The trustees of the association applied to the ' Chief Justice to declare the ordinance to restrain and control the Native- Company- illegal. He upheld the legality of the ordinance, and the result was a requisition to the King to dismiss the Chief Justice, hut the King declined to do so. The Cabinet met and discussed the question of the dismissal, and a divided meeting ended in a deadlock. Later Mr. Roberts, AuditorGeneral and Assistant-Premier,' was dismissed from office. “