DANGEROUS LITERATURE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17121, 16 April 1921, Page 10

DANGEROUS LITERATURE.

A SWEDE SENT TO GAOL. ' (frxss association telegham.) WELLINGTON, April 15. . The Magistrate's Court was crowded during the" hearing of a "case in wjijcli a Swede named Edward Johnson was charged under section 46 of .tjie Cuh-$ toms Act and»the W a i' Regulations witlh. being in possession of tha newspaper ' 'Knowledge' and Unity," and filing or publishing "The Russian Revolution," '"lnside Soviet Russia,' and "Communist Tactics of Revolution," which books encouraged violence and lawlessness. Constable John Home visited the Socialist Hall and- saw Johnson's open,, bookstall. Several men entered the stall, a number of them purchasing books. Witness remained in tlhe stall with the accused. , Another man who purchased the "Communist Programme of World Revolution," brought witness one, and gave/witness to understand that, the book was prohibited. Johitston then gave witneiss the other books. Witness made. a. second visit to the Socialist Hall, where a lecture was being given by Professor Hunter, of Victoria, College. Ho sat down for a while, and later % asked defendant if he had anything good. Defendant brought out! three, books, "Inside Soviet Russia," "Communist. Tactics of Revolution," and "The Russian Revolution./ He said the first two were prohibited. Cross-examined by defendant, witness said 'he had been a member of the polico force for about three months. He had not told certain people "He would do any dirty act" for the purpose of joining _tho" police force v ■ Defendant, asked if he wished to give evidence on Oath or make a statement, saidj-"I am not a believer in. the teaching of the Bible, and I therefore can't take an bath." ■ . . The Magistrate: But you can give evidence on affirmation. This, defendant agreed to do. He said after his last conviction he had no longer acted as literary secretary. He had b«en advised not to do so as ne was an alien. Johnston emphatically denied that the evidence of -Constable Home was correet. ' Constable Home had stated tlhat defendant had said that there was literature all over the-build-ing. This was not correct. The Socialist Party had no control aver, the building apart from the rooms they occupied. The whole of the dharges had been "frumped up against him." Mr Macassey: Are you naturalised?— No, I don't believe in naturalisation. Have you a , permit to work on .the wharf? —Yes, but not with me. ,< How long have you had it ?—Since 1917. - . ' , How long" have you been in Wellington?—Oh, on and off, for twenty years. When you were before tlhe Court before, did you not give a guarantee that you would not sell.such literature again, h t—No. i Johnson-went', on to detail a conver» sation he had hifd "with the secretary to the Attorney-General regarding the regulations. 'Mr Hunt, S.M.: "I am not going to allow you to air your grievances with the Attorney-General here. , " Johnson finally submitted that the case for prosecution depended solely on'the evidence of one policeman; there was no corroboration. In giving his decision, ihe Magistrate made strong -comment on the nature of the of documents. "It'is an offence," he said, "for any person to have-in his possession for sale or distribution any document which incites, encourages, advises, or advocates violence, • lawlessnes3 ; or disorder, or expresses any seditious, intention. I have read six publications, .the subject of three of the charges. They clearly come within the regulation, for on almost eyery page violence, lawlessness, and sedition are Advocated. In one Sovietism is directly recommended, workers are to employ force, as force Would bring about a revolution. A revolution is said to be necessary so that the front ranks of workers' can carry along the workers with them. In another, Parliament is . described aa a machine of suppression and oppression in the hands of dominant capitalism, and is to be abolished. Advice is given to utilise; and be in. complete contact with all mass actions -taking place at a 'given moment (strikes, demonstrations, movenients amonsst soldiers and sailors, etc.), and for the furtherance of their designs it is necessary to involve in active work all the mass organisations of the proletariat, in other words, foment dissatisfaction. | In the third and fourth publications workers aye' advised to have no scruple in using violence, to detail themselves with {£uns at street corners, andf!o seize factories.' The essential task of the leaders is to dfafr-together all workers capable of revolutionary mats' action in a time of crisis. The last two of the six publications teach the game, but in addition advocate a general strike, which is to be turned into an armed insurrection. This is called 'political action. It is not necessary for me to dilate on the mischief the dissemination* of such seditious documents causes." On the charge ,of a breach of the Customs Act, being in possession of "Knowledge and Unity," a fine of £SO was imposed, the . alternative being three months' imprisonment. On each of the other three" charges, Johnson was Sentenced to three montns' imprisonment, the terms to be concurrent. Following the Magistrate's decision Johnson fumed to the rear of the Court and commenced to make a reference to the British worker, but his final oration waa brief. Two constables conducted him from the Court.