Murder of Mr. A. Robinson

Natives 'Sentences Commuted To 10 Years ' Hard Labour

THE three New Britain natives who were convicted, on April 7, of the murder of Mr. Alf Robinson, and sentenced to death have had their sentences com muted to ten years’ hard labour. The reason given is that the area where thej/ live is not fully under control. (Robin son, an experienced Territorian and former Administration officer, was mur dered in a remote village in New Britain in mid-December, 1948. He had been on a recruiting trip.) We reported at the time of Robinson’s murder, and repeated it in May “PIM,” in reporting the trial of the murderers, that eight natives had been killed at the same time as Robinson. 'Our Rabaul corres pondent now points out that this is in correct and that Robinson only was murdered. In December, when the first message was received by the District Officer, Rabaul, telling of the tragedy, it was stated that the natives had been killed but this subsequently was found not to be so.