FLOGGED A EUROPEAN

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19052, 16 September 1933, Page 5

FLOGGED A EUROPEAN

BECHUANALAND INCIDENT CHIEF’S ACTION CONDEMNED. ■OPINION IN OFFICIAL 'CIRCLES. (Official V/lrelesi.) (Received Sept. 16, 10.30 a.m.) CAPETOWN, Sept. 15. A full report on the Bec'huanaland flogging ease has been received at the Dominions Office. Important points of 'constitutional authority are involved, and 'the report makes it clear that Tschekedi, ohief of the Rawangwaito tribe, exceeded his powers In flogging Phineas Mackintosh, and that in claiming the right to do so he attempted to put himself above the law.

The report states the chief admitted trying the case and giving sentence. His defence was: (1) That Mackintosh was a bad character and his action was justified; and (2) that he was immune from the section of the proclamation of 1891 which forbids a native court to deal with Europeans.

The report adds that the chief’s attitude as disclosed by the 'inquiry, made it Impossible to deal with him by a fine and rebuke. In official circles In London the view 1s expressed 'that whatever Mackintosh’s offence may have been, Tschekedi’s claims could riot be allowed, and the danger of usurpation of the power of administration had to be averted, otherwise the existing difficulties of administering the country would have been greatly increased.