HOLLAND & THE LAW

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2135, 29 April 1914, Page 8

HOLLAND & THE LAW

SENTENCE TO BE SERVED

NO GROUND FOR MITIGATION

(By Telesra-Dli.—Press Association.] Dunetlin, April 28. Tho Hon. J. T. Paul has received the following telegram from tho Minister of Justice:—"The Hon. Mr. Allen .has communicated to me representations mado to him by a deputation introduced by you urging remission of the sentence imposed upon Henry Holland. Tho matter has received very careful consideration. I regret that I can seo no sufficient grounds to justify me iu recommending the Governor to grant any remission of the sentence imposed on Holland." MINISTER'S REMARKS. . POSITION CLEARLY STATED. The Hon. A. L. Herdman mado tho following statement to a Dominion reporter yesterday on the subject of the foregoing telegram:— "Holland was convicted by a jury. His case was carefully investigated by his fellow-countrymen', and every facility was given by counsel who conducted his defence. It is not seriously suggested by anyone that ho was not guilty of the offence with which he was charged. "His Honour the Chief Justice, who sentenced him, gave his representations every consideration, and passed a sentence which ho.considered was reasonable under the circumstances, and I know of no reason which would justify me in advising His Excellency the Gov-. crnor to interfere in any way with the sentence imposed. lam of opinion that to accede to the wishes of those who aro petitioning for Holland's release would he to make the administration of justice ridiculous. "I would like to point' out that this is not Holland's first offence. Ho has been convictccl on two other occasions— once at Sydney, on August 26, 1896. where ho was convicted of criminal libel and fined £50, in default three months' imprisonment, and again at Albury on May 6, 1909, where he was convicted of sedition, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment.. In the last instance ho was discharged' by special remission on October 4, 1009. It may enable reasonable people to understand and appreciate the present situation if I repeat the following words used by tho Chief, Justice when sentencing Holland on April 22:— " 'Prisoner at the bar, you have been convicted by the jury of sedition ; and the Court of Appeal has hold that the jury wero warranted in so finding. You havo received, as you will admit, every consideration in the position in which you have been placed. It is my bounden duty to carry out the law. You seem to think that this law has been imposed upon New Zealand by the-Judges of the past._ Tho law is a law made by tho Parliament of Now Zealand, and mado by it unanimously. As far as I remember, I was present when the law was enacted, and no objection was taken te it then. The Legislature, and every right-thinking person, will hold that if we .ire'to havo any progress or peaco in tho community there must bo some law to prevent violence.-' "'I shall not sentence".you, , continued His Honour, 'to what tho law allows, which is a .term of four years. I am going to deal kindly with you— far more kindly than you wore dealt with in your own country. I hope, you will see and take time for reflection to see that no good can como about from violent methods. Violence i.reeds violence, and this community will not stand ono class being violent towards another or towards the established authorities without violonco ensuing. -

HOLLAND'S FRIENDS. (By Teleerapli.—Press Aasociation.) Masterton, April 28. Tho Masterton branch of the Social Democratic Party has earned a resolution protesting against what it terms "the unjust sentence passed on U. b. Holland, editor of the 'Jlaoriland Worker,, demanding his immediate release, and further demanding the erasure or his conviction from the criminal records in view of the obsoleto charge, ...