Rabaul Court Sends

[?]o Village Tax [?]efaulters to Gaol

EVENTY defendants from the Reimber Native Village Council area were each sentenced at the ibaul District Court on September to one month’s imprisonment for ’using to pay Council tax. rhey comprised 47 men and 23 men.

Some of them had previously been ivicted twice on similar charges, ey had been fined £1 on the first jasion and had served a month’s prisonment on the second, tome had served two months’ im sonment after conviction on a irge of resisting arrest after they i attempted to prevent police esting villagers charged with re ing to pay the Council tax. lince serving their two months’ fence, these villagers had re ed to pay taxes.

"he remainder of the 70 had not viously been charged with a ilar offence.

Tosecuting counsel, Assistant strict Officer K. Williams, I the defendants had previously a summonsed before the Court, that occasion, he said, they had lied for an adjournment so that 7 could discuss the matter with r friends. efending counsel, Mr. Mervyn les, said he had been instructed nake a statement on behalf of defendants.

Vhen these charges were in ed a meeting was held which nded over a period of two days,”

James said. “The meeting de d not to pay the tax as levied requested that this statement nade to the Court.

Tie feeling of the meeting was a tax is payable but that it ild be paid to the Government not to the Village Councils.

Tie meeting was unable to pt the principle of Village Coun and its reasons for this non ptance were that the people i not sufficiently educated; that i people they have insufficient ey to meet the Council’s re sments: and that, as yet, they ■ unable to accept the principle lajority rule.

'he meeting also decided that rther formal request be lodged the Administration, through District Office, that these people for the time being, exempted i the provisions of the Native ge Councils Ordinance and ilations. d set period was determined for exemption but it would be bed out that it would not extend nd the time required for them iducate themselves up to the lard which would enable them ppreciate and utilise whatever fits the Council may confer.

“Finally, the meeting also re quested that, having made this statement to the Court, if the Court could in any way assist these people to bring the matter up again to the Administration for further consid eration, they would be most grateful.”