Citizens

Power To Arrest N.G.

Interesting Point of Law

IT was stated, erroneously, in our last ’ issue, that G. M. C. Ffrost, a New Guinea overseer, who had been arrested in Sydney, had been sent to New Guinea by the Macdhui on February 4, to stand trial for the alleged unlawful killing of a native.

What actually happened was that, be fore Ffrost sailed, a habeas corpus ap plication was made to the State Supreme Court, in Sydney. Ffrost was kept in Sydney to await the result of the applica tion, which the Full Court heard on February 22. Very complicated questions of law, especially affecting the constitu tional relationship between the States, the Commonwealth and New Guinea, were raised. The point was: Had the State police the authority to arrest a man and hand him over to the jurisdic tion of New Guinea?

The Full Court reserved its decision.

At this date (March 22) Ffrost still is in Sydney, awaiting a decision. He is a young man of good family, and was em ployed by Burns, Philp on Meto planta tion. It is claimed, on his behalf, that a boss-boy already has been convicted and sentenced for manslaughter, in con nection with the death of the native.