THE STRIKE LEADERS.

Press, Issue 14828, 20 November 1913, Page 8

THE STRIKE LEADERS.

AGAIN BEFORE THE COURT.

REMANDED TILL 28th INST

NO BAIL ALLOWED

(special to "the press.")

WELLINGTON, November 19,

A great deal of interest was taken this morning on the second appearance at the Police Court of tho six strike leaders who were arrested last week on various charges arising out of their open-air speeches during the early stages of tho strike. Thero was a large attendance of spectators, but the authorities did not allow all and sundry to enter the Court, and they prevented the building from being uncomfortably crowded.

The first of the six men to be called on was Peter Fraser.

Mr Dickson (on behalf of Mr P. J. O'Regan, counsel for the accused) asked for a remand until Monday next, or the earliest possible date, as Mr O'Regan had been unable to prepare tho defence and was at present away on important business.

Mr Ostler, who appeared for tho Crown, said ho had understood up to yesterday that Mr O'Regan was prepared to proceed, and then he was informed otherwise. He could not manago to appear before Friday week.

Tho Magistrate remanded the accused until Friday, November 28th. A similar course was adopted with regard to Robert Semple and Georgo Bailey.

W r iliiam Thomas Young, president of the Federation of Labour, was also remanded to the same date.

This accused appeared annoyed at the further remand, and expressed his feelings with a snap of the fingers as he was conducted from tho courtroom. Henry Holland, editor of the "Maoriland Worker." who next appeared, was not represented by counsel, and he began a statement from the dock. "I am much in the same position, your Worship," he said, "as I was when I last appeared before the Court. I am not ready with my defence yet. I have had no opportunity of organising it, and I want to ask for bail for this reason." It seems to mo almost absurd to point out that the object of bail is to ensure the appearance of the accused. Tho position I hold in the working-olnss movement in this country is one of tho highest and most honourable -" Tlie Magistrate: Very well, then, bail will be granted on the charge of an indictable offence, and will be refused on the other charges. Call the next case.

The accused still protested. "I want to make a further application," he said.

The Magistrate: Tako the defendant away. The defendant, as ho was being lod away, still protested indignantly. "I want to make application," he exclaimed, "for opportunities to organise my defence."

The Magistrate:. Very well, the police will give you all the assistance that is necessary. Tho accused was conducted out of the Court, still protesting.

THE I.W.W. . ADVOCATE. Thomas Barker, organiser for tho 1.W.W., who was arrested at Auckland'and remanded on bail to Wellington, was the last of the six, he being charged with using seditious language. , Mr Dickson, for the accused, made an application for renewal of the bail granted in Auckland. The Magistrate remanded Barker, granting bail on the indictable charge and refusing it on the summary charges. Mr Dickson: I understand that under similar circumstances bail was granted by tho Magistrate in Auckland.

The Magistrate: I have given my decision.

The accused was then removed