A VILE PARAGRAPH.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1922, 3 December 1913, Page 8

A VILE PARAGRAPH.

STRIKE COMMITTEE CLEARED, MAGISTRATE'S STRONG COMMENT. IBy Telegraph.—Press Association,! Christchurch, December 2. I _An unusually largo crowd attended at the Magistrate's Court to-day, when 10. .). Howard, F. C, Ellis, J. M'Combs, 11. Hunter, j. Thorn, D. G. Sullivan, and V. Lurch, alleged to be members of the Striko Committee, were summoned to appear before Mr,' H. W. Bishop, S.M., to show cause why they should not be prosecuted under Section .11 of tho Law of Libel Act, 1910, for tho publication of a defamatory libel in the publication called the "Clirislclmrcli Strike Bulletin," dated November 26, under the heading, "Scabs, Malo and Female." The applications wore hoard separately in camera, in tho Magistrate's room, the Press not being admitted. The Magistrate said he did not mind - the newspaper representatives being present, but the inquiry was but a preliminary one, to see whether there could be a prosecution. Otherwise, if a. prosecution were ordered, it would mean two public hearings instead of one. Defendants Howard, Hunter, and Sullivan denied all knowledge of the offending paragraph. Under the circumstances, Mr. Jiishop had no alternative hut to order that no warrants be issued, and the informations against the remaining defendants were withdrawn. It is probable, however, that action will bo taken against the printers.

51r. Bishop, in examining the defendants, described the paragraph as absolutely vile and abominable. Ho hoped the respectable portion of Labour, both Arbitratinnist and Fedorat■ionist, would take public opportunity of disavowing any responsibility for slieli an abominable p.ml vilo paragraph. The. defendants'said this would Lc done. They expressed their-disapproval of the paragraph, which they said they did not authorise, and did not see it until it was published. They did not know who formed the Strike Committee. The original Strike Committee had been dissolved on November "4, two days before the publication of tlie paragraph. It was also denied that the ''strike bulletin" was circulated alter the paragraph in question was discovered, the sheet being withdrawn. After the dismissing of 'ho informations against Sullivan, Hunter,

and Howard, Mr. Stringer, K.C., withdrew the other informations, on being assured by counsel that tho rest of the defendants would testify on the same lines. The result of the inquiry was received, with cheers by the crowd of sympathisers who wore waiting outside.