STRIKE PRISONERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2229, 15 August 1914, Page 6

STRIKE PRISONERS

SIX TO BE RELEASED: An important statement regarding the • release of strike prisoners was made by the Hon. A. L. Herdnian in the House of Representatives last evening, in reply to a question by Mr. Atinore. Cabinet," the Minister "stafol had considered tie report of the A to L Petitions Committee, re- • commending to the favourable consideration of the Government a petition praying for' the release of." strike prisoners, and- it» had been decided, after consultation with the, Chief Justice in the mat- , ter, that six out of ten prisoners who at ■ . the present time were in prison for of- • fences-arising out of strike disturbances should have their sentences remitted and be liberated. .The names of,the six men were as follow (tho dates upon which . their sentences would have expired in ordinary course are shown in parentheses) —'William Henry Lawton (September 13, 1914), Max Wolfe (November' 2 1014), Charles Frederick Beaumont (September 25, 1914), Thonas Ackland (November 2, 1914), H. Holland (November 22, 1914), • Karl Johnston September 23, 19U)..... There were four other men, the Minis- - ter added, who still remained in gaol.'Tho reasons for this were in the case of. three of the men that thoTe wen previous convictions, in one case eight and in another thirteen previous convictions. It was considered that these men were really confirmed criminals, and that they, should remain where they were. (Hear, hear.) In the caso of the other six men, Hi!" Excellency'the Governor would be advis, ed to remit their sentences on the follow Ing.day. '• , -'