MR BARNES VERSION OF ISLANDERS IN CHAINS JUST A VISION

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 January 1948, Page 2

MR BARNES VERSION OF ISLANDERS IN CHAINS JUST A VISION

(P.A.) Wellington, Jan. 16. “Mr. Barnes' vision of a policeman armed with two revolvers terrorising the waterfront at Rarotonga has hao the same substance as his other vision of 14 islanders in chains at Manihlki. In other words, it is just a vision,” said Mr. A. G. Osborne, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Prime Minister, replying to allegations made by Mr. Barnes, national president of the Walersiders’ Union on December 31. “It did not happen and it could not have happened, since the only revolver in the possession of the Rarotonga police had been posted to New Zealand* for repairs Jirior to tne alleged incident," Mr. Osborne said, adding that a searching inquiry revealed that the incident, alleged by Mr. Barnes on the hearsay authority of unnamed members of the crew of the Maui Pomare, did not happen. At no time before, during or since the visit of the Maui P<.:nare was any member of the police force at Rarotonga armed with a revolver or any weapon lethal or otherwise. An official message from the Administration said: “No member of the police was at any time armed, or fired, Brandished or in any way threatened the people with a revol- er or any other weapon on any occasion.” The pistol which was at present at the headquarters of Island territories in Wellington was normally used by the police for such things as the shooting of horses with broken legs and the disposal of diseased animals. Mr. Baines had further endeavoured to distort the facts of the taking into custody of two islanders who had gone out to the Maui Pomare Oy canoe. The facts were that a canoe owner had signed a statement to the effect that his canoe had been stolen. This was Hie canoe which took the two men to the ship. Accordingly, on tlieir return, they were arrested and charged with the theft of the canoe. However, the canoe owner had subsequently changed his story and laid he had given permission for the canoe to be used. The theft charge was accordingly withdrawn and the men released. Referring to Mr. Barnes' call for an inquiry. Mr. Osborne said the Cook Islanders had never been better off than under the present Government and knew they had nothing to gain from the elements that were stirring up discord and 111-feeling based on fabrications.