IMPEDING TRAFFIC

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2982, 20 January 1917, Page 8

IMPEDING TRAFFIC

STREET ORATORS FINED. Before Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court "yesterday, James Henry Edwards, who had addressed a meeting in Cl.vde Quay on December 31, was charged with haying caused an obstruction to the traffic. The defendant and other speakers when requested by the polico to move 011 had declined to .do so. A plea of not guilty'was entered, and tho defendant conducted his own case. After hearing the police evidence and a statement by Edwards', His Worship said that mcotings such as tho dofcn T dattt an<l his, associates hare held might easily bo converted into riots. True, tho meeting was orderly, but the council had a right to consider, and was qui to within its discretion, in considering that such meetings might have a,, tendency to lead to riots. The defendant is convicted and fined £10. • In reply to a question as to -whether 110 had any goods to bo distrained on, the defendant replied that he had none. The term of imprisonment in default of payment was fixed at two months. Harold .Pcard, one of tho speakers at a meeting held in Dixon Street on the evening of Sunday, December 24, appoared on a charge similar to that preferred against Edwards.. Pcard was convicted and a penalty similar to that in Edwardp's case ■was imposed.