SEDITION CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3070, 4 May 1917, Page 6

SEDITION CHARGES

WEST COAST MEN IN COURT THE SPEECHES COMPLAINED OF Bj Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, May 3. James O'Brien, engine driver, of Greymouth, and Peter O'Rourkc, coal iniiier'| check weighman, of iUinauga, who were arrested at Greymouth on charges of having made seditious utterauces, appeared to-day before Mr. Bailey, S.M., when they were formally .charged and remanded till to-morrow. They pleaded not guihy. Bail was refused. ,

The charge against O'Brien was that on April 19, at Greyniouth, he published the following seditious utterances: — "Pcoplo say the miner came out on strike; .he was forced out on strike. Twelve months ago the Runanga miners passed a resolution that they would go on strike if conscription was carried iii this country. JVell, the time has come, and tho miners are not on strike. The miner gave plenty of warning as to what he was going to do. Have you got any idea how many men are in gaol at the present time? If what 1 read in the paper is right, they say that 35 are summoned and nine or ten more arrested-—S'emple, Armstrong, Thome, lirindle, and all the rest. Bid they think for a moment that the miner wae a new type of mongrel? Did they not know lie was goins to fight? We have heard there is a vast body of people in Groymouth against the Act (meaning thereby the Military Service Act, 1916). I wonder are there? If there are, what are you doing? The miners are on strike. What are you doing? If there are in this town a- great number of people that- believe in the miners' action, that believe that ho is doing right, believe that he is fighting for tho freedom of New Zealand 1 , well, if there are, let you be up and doing— don't be afraid of your jobs. Jobs are not much. You have a right of demon-., stration, and if you force the referendum in this country I am perfectly certain the Conscription Act will be finished for over. Well, now, it remains with you people, if you value the lives of your sons, if you don't want these horrible butcheries to be carried on. Figures say that twenty million were killed! in Europe—twenty times the whole population of New Zealand. Do you want it carried on? If you want freedom, you want to make yourselves known. "'You have got to act, and act quickly, in the future, so don't forget, that. I hope you wjll remember my words, if you don't want this fight to go to the enemy." , The charge against Peter O'Rourke was in respect to the following speech: "All over the world to-day tho outlook seems dark ,as far as the working classes are concerned. are menaced with one of the greatest serpents that has ever been known. When I speak of that you will understand the serpent I refer to is the question of conscription. We know why we entered into the war. The reason -why we entered the war was for the purpose of breaking down Prussian militarism. They said that as long as it remains in tho world there can bo no peace or harmony. They had started under the voluntary system with plenty of men available, and when these gallant men went away, what do we find? Almost immediately the men's backs are turned a- move \yas made for the purpose of conscripting England and the colonies, and they brought Gorman militarism -into England—one of the most cowardly actions that was ever indulged in. • They introduced conscription for the purpose of making more secure the wealth they had secured from the workers. It was proved there were more soldiers in England than they could equip. They brought conscription into England for the purpose of holding the wealth, in order that they will be more secure in years, to come* to keep the toilers in subjection. They wanted cheap men, men who would work for a. bob or tenpence a day. That is the reason they introduced conscription. We anticipated the trouble. We knew there was trouble at the back of this thing. The miner is by no means a coward. Knowing the battles our forefathers have, fought in the past, it was not likely the miner was going to submit quietly. The Press understand that the people of New Zealand don't want conscription. They know there is an agitation from the North Capo to the Bluff, against conscription. The man who swung the baton at the last strike is not going to render tho Government aid to send them to France. In conclusion, let mo say that as far as the miner is concerned there is going lo be no compromise in tho situation. It will be a fight to a finish."