Tongan Minister

Resigns Development in Impeach ment Crisis

From Our Own Correspondent

Nukualofa, Aug. 10.

THE serious tension in the political situation in Tonga, caused by the ap parent suspension of Constitutional Government during the past four months, and the undue delay in the session of the Legislative Assembly, supposed to be the result of discord in the Cabinet Mini stry, reached a crisis on July 21. when the Minister for Finance, Mr. W. G. Bagnall,

resigned. The Minister for Police, J. A.

Kaho, also retired on July 21, ha vine: passed the retiring age limit.

An extraordinary phase of these de velopments was that on July 19 the Mini ster for Police served a Bill of Impeach ment in the Legislative Assembly on the Minister for Finance, for alleged perjury in the Supreme Court, on the occasion when he gave evidence at the trial, last April, of a Tongan clerk, Uliti Balu. for the embezzlement of £1.200 in the Trea sury. Charges had been, also, laid against Mr. Bagnall by J. Mataele, M.L.A.

As it was felt that he should and could have resigned earlier, and in the absence of any apparent immediate cause for taking that step at this stage, Mr. Bagnall’s resignation, having been made a day or two after he had received notice of impeachment, and about a week before the Legislative Assembly opened, was commented upon unfavourably.

Tire retirement of the Minister for Police was very unexpected, in view of his long and honourable record of service for the State, and of the exceptional cour age and impartiality he showed in carry ing out his ministerial duties. His retire ment is considered a great loss to the Ministry.

The vacancies which resulted were filled by Akauola, Governor of Vava’u. as Acting Minister for Police, and Mr. H. L.

Nicolson, Chief Postmaster, as Acting Minister for Finance. G. H. Ulukalala. son of the late Finau Ulukalala, who was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly till his death last year, was appointed as Acting Governor of Vava’u.

As a result, certain parts of the machine of Government, which have been idle for several months, have commenced to function again. The Privy Council met on July 24 and Cabinet on July 28. The Legislative Assembly—which, contrary to law, had not met for twelve months—was opened on August 1. To indemnify the Government from all liability or the ap parent suspension of Constitutional Gov ernment during April, May. June and July, the Privy Council passed an Indem nity Ordinance on July 31.

There is still anxiety regarding the com plications, created by differences, in cer tain matters of administration, between the British Agent and Consul (Mr. A. L.

Armstrong) and the Chief Justice of Tonga (Mr. W. H. Stuart), which culmin ated in an appeal to the High Commis sioner for the Western Pacific (Sir Harry Luke) at Suva. Fiji. In the interest of Tongan Government (in which the British Agent and Consul, under the Treaty of Protection and Agreements between Great Britain and Tonga, has certain powers to exercise) it is hoped that this undesir able condition may be soon adjusted by the High Commissioner.

Mrs. Charlotte Compain, of Tailevu Fiji, left Sydney by the September “Mari posa” for the Colony. She has been in Sydnev as the guest of Mrs. Edward Gosnell, for several months.

Mr. M. L. Bernacchi, District Commis sioner, Savu Savu. Fiji, has been trans ferred to Suva. He had been replaced by District Officer Legge.

Pastor Captain G. F. Jones, who de spite his advanced age of 75 years—4s spent in New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and the Dutch East Indies—is still tra velling about the Pacific actively engaged in Seventh Day Adventist mission work.

He was in Western Samoa early in August.