STRIKE PRISONERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2241, 29 August 1914, Page 3

STRIKE PRISONERS

RELEASE ASKED FOR . THE GOVERNMENT APPROACHED. The Prime- Minister and the AttorneyGeneral were interviewed yesterday by a- deputation, (including 6everal members of Parliament), whioh represented all sections of Labour, and urged that the four men now in gaol for offences committed during the etrike should be relpased.

Introducipg the deputation,, Dr. New. man, M.P., said it represented most of the unions in. AVellin^ton,'. and they considered that as -six of the strike prisoners had been released it was.only reasonable to ask that the general amnesty enould Be extended.to the four men who were 6till in gaol. Mr. Sullivan, president of the United Federation of Labour, said they felt that there bad been a subsidence of ciaos feeling during the last few weeks, and it would oominend itself to the majority of the people if the men now in gaol were released. As to those men wno had records and other offences against them, he contended that they had already paid the penalty. The Prime Minister: I think I am right in. eayingj that two of these men had been convicted,of shooting with intent. '■■■■■

Mr. Hcrdman: One was conv.ioted for. 'shooting with intent at the Commissioner o£ Police, and the other for firing a revolver in front of the Post Office. Mr. Moriarty said that he had just returned from Canterbury;? and found a- general feeling of 'satisfaction, at the Government having released six of the strike prisoners, , and there was a general feeling also that at a time like this breadwinners should be released. ■ Mr,.Holland said that as ho had been released, the Government could not justify its actionin keeping the other men in gaol, because he had .been convioted of inciting to acts of: violencepeople who are now in gaol,, who, it was iilloged, were misled by him. ' It was a greater offence than that-committed by any of tho other, men who were in gaol. u You will never understand , the gaol 6,ystem," he added, "until you have had an opportunity of sampling your own Rapl.system." (Laughter.) In'.addition, he said the deputation represented organised labour throughout New Zealand, and ho contended that nothing would be lost to the Dominion if these people were released. ' . ■ ■ " • Prime Minister In Reply. . In replying, the Prime Minister said that reference had been made to dißcriminatiori. \ The reason' for it _must be obyiousi Cabinet took.into consideration the record's of the men who were in gaol and 1 the offences for which_ they worei convicted, and he did not think'it could be denied that the offences for which they were convicted were much more serious than the offences of those who 'were released.. ■ A. "record"'al-

ways counted when a man was convict- 1 ed. Tlie practice was that when ii-was proposed to release a prisonertbe Judge who sentenced him was consulted; and. if his', recommendation' was favourable so much the better fc>r the roan. This was a matter for Cabinet. Ho did not propose to commit tho; Government in any way,' but he would bring it before Cabinet, .and Cabinet would 7 .decide it. '•. Previous .Corivlotlone. v J- '.■■•'■ -The Hon. A. L. Herdman ■ said ■■ he wautod the deputation to clearly understand that Cabinet carefully considered the question before it was decided to except these four men from tho -amnesty. In the.ca6c of one of the four, there were eight previous convictions, in the. paee of another seven previous convictions, and in the caso of another thirteen previous convictions.^ . Speaking personally, he thought there must be discrimination between men who had been convicted before and men who.bad no'previous.convictions. .' - : i Dr. Newman: Holland was convicted before. ' - . ■' ■

Mr. Hcrdman: He was convicted for ■a-purely political offence. ' Thesfe are not'political convictions; ' they) are breaches of the criminal law. . Mr. Seiriple: Very.small ones.. Mr. Herdmnn: May be, but even-if they are small, I think you will; agree that thirteen convictions against ~thecriminal law stamp a. man as one who .should be looked after. The. point; I ■want to.make , is this: The' Government rn.ust discriminate' between ;the men who have.been'of .good-charactetftin'the past and wlio, in"a'state of excitement,' have hecorrio involved iri'.-.- ".aii'y- industrial trouble, and men, who have been constantly before'the Court, and convicted on several charges.. I shall, be glad to discuss the'matter with my colleagues. The view.l.take.is that there is'not much prospect of to the conclusion that there is.much:justi-fication-for these men being released.