Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), Saturday 22 December 1928, page 5


NATIVE CHIEF'S ARREST

Refused to Pay Tax.

THROWN AND HANDCUFFED

SUVA (Fiji), Friday. -- Thirty mili-

tary police and two machine guns were sent to a village to arrest a native chief who had refused to pay a tax of 55/ which had been imposed by the

court. The women of the village stoned the party and the chief fled to the bush. He returned to the village later, but before he could be arrested he had to be thrown and handcuffed.

He was sentenced to six weeks for contempt, and six months for having obstructed the police. He said he re-fused to pay the tax as a matter of principle, and not with any ill will to the Government.

A strong protest has been made that an offence, which was a civil one, should have been used for such action against a high chief. His arrest has intensified the natives' passive resist-

ance.

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