SEDITIOUS UTTERANCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2956, 20 December 1916, Page 6

SOCIALIST IN TROUIILE

SENTENCED TO A YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT

By Telegraph—Pre63 Association. Christchurch, December 19. At the Magistrate's Court, before Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., Fred Riley Cooko, a prominent local Socialist, was charged that on December 10 he expressed a seditious. intention contrary to the War Regulations. The charge arose -oyer a speech at tho Socialist Hall, in whioh Cooke denounced the Conscription Act. Cooke pleaded 'not guilty. A , portion of tho spec-cl: was read criticising the Act. . - After _ evidence had been heard, Cooke said: "I should like to place my case before you. That is, of course, if the Court lias any toleration for what a pacifist has to say." "Go on," replied the Magistrate (Mr. Bishop). "When Reynolds was before the Court," accused went on, "you expressed a desire to get behind tho mind of a pacifist. I will, therefore, endeavour to show you what is and vas behind my mind. On one page of a daily newspaper there was a bare reference to three boys in one family, two of whom were dead and the other missing. In the same newspaper there was a column of a report of the freedom of London having been conferred on Mr. Massey. That does not appear to be a very fair distribution of honours as a student of psychology." ■ The Magistrate: "I don't v.'ish to interrupt you, but I am not going to allow a long rigmarole on political matters, especially on subjects -which have happened in England. You will have to confino yourself to the subject matter of the charge. Here are the Regulations which define the position. I will also hear anything in extenuation."'

, Accused: "But I am trying to show what is behind my mind. As ail equal citizen with you I say I was brought up with a belief in the freedom of a Britisher. I claim to have the right, therefore, to critioise any Government which goes' beyond the powers it was rested in when elected." The Magistrate: "You have no right." At this stage there was some laughter and disturbance from the public, which subsided as tho Court orderly walked towards the source. "You havo no right," Mr. Bishop resumed, "to interfere with tho recruiting requirements of the country." Accused: "As Socialists and pacifists wa 'stood aside when the voluntary recruiting business was on, but when men are compelled to serve I wish to place before my publio, yourself included; my and our attitude towards conscription. I say, as a pacifist and a Socialist, I will raise my voice." The Magistrate: "I want to understand you, and i want you to understand your position." Cooke (in an aggressive ami defiant manner): "Ab a pacifist, 1 say, with all respect to the Court, I will make speeches as a Britisher."

The Magistrate!: "Do you still persist in your intention to make speeches outside?"

"I certainly 'do," replied Cooke. "If you do," replied Mr. Bishop, "it must affect your position when determining judgment."

_ 'Accused (heatedly): "I must persist m my intention, whatever the consequences."

The Magistrate: "Very well, twelve months' imprisonment^"