Native Police

White Man Battered by Native Police Recent Vila Incident Reflects Badly Upon N. Hebrides Officials

A PARTY of firemen, off the S.S.

“Morinda”, while in Port Vila (New Hebrides), on May 23, were at one of the French bars in the rue Biggin son. Some misunderstanding arose which resulted in the French Command ant of native police arriving on the scene, with some of his native police, into whose custody he handed two of the stokers.

The Frenchman was not in uniform, nor is he able to speak English. One of the stokers resisted arrest, and was dragged along the street by several na tive police, who hammered him with their batons.

Three times, along the street, the batoning of the European was stopped by white men; and the stoker was at length allowed to get away.

This stoker fainted, somewhere on the outskirts of the town. On regaining con sciousness, bleeding and half-naked, he made his way back to the Burns Philp wharf, to await a launch to take him to his ship. A squad of British native police arrived, in charge of a native ser geant, who told the stoker that he had orders to arrest him. So as not to make any further scene, the stoker decided to go with them quietly. En route, the party was met by the British Commander of Native Police.

The man was then taken to the French Police Station, lodged in a cell, and then charged by the British Com mander of police with being drunk and disorderly, and assaulting a police offi cer.

At the subsequent court proceedings, where this man was arraigned, with two of his mates, the stokers claimed that they had been improperly deprived of a bottle of brandy which they had bought: and, when they protested, they were at tacked and ejected.

Evidence was produced that the man who was battered by the native police was neither drunk nor disorderly. The judge found him not guilty, on both charges.

The charge of being drunk and dis orderly was also dismissed in the case of a second fireman; and a third, who pleaded guilty to drunkenness, was fined 5/-.

Such misunderstandings, between peo ple speaking different languages, may occur among the quietest people. But the notorious Condominium of the New Hebrides seems to be the only place where white men can be arrested and manhandled by native police. There have been other similar cases in Vila; and always it has been visiting British men who have become involved, and the manhandling has been done by the French native police.

Apparently well-informed people who have sent this information to the “P.1.M.”, say that the fault lies with cer tain French and British major officials “who are too high and mighty to use a little ordinary tact”. They also say that “the French native police in Vila are an ill-disciplined body, very cheeky, and with little respect for white men, French or English”.

Mr. A. Ulfsby, of Rarotonga, Cook Is lands, where he has been a resident for 10 years, arrived in Sydney in July on his way home to Norway.

Wedding In

Western

Samoa

On June 7, at Apia Protestant Church, Western Samoa, Miss Isobel Toothe was married to Mr. James Knox, of the local Burns, Philp staff. The group shows: Front row.—Miss Marion Edwards (brides maid), the bridegroom, the bride. Miss Joan Marston (flower girl). Miss Mavis Edwards (bridesmaid).

Back row.—Mr. L. Cook (groomsman); Mr. J.

Parkhouse (best man).