SEDITION CASES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 208, 22 May 1918, Page 8

SEDITION CASES

PRISONERS TO BE RELEASED ON STRINGENT CONDITIONS NOT A PRECEDENT, Tlio Acting-Mme Minister gave to the Press yesterday the following statement of the division of Cabinet regarding the men, Hunter, flood, and Langley, imprisoned in Christchurch for having uttered sedition. Hunter was sentenced to imprisonment for three montlis and the ottar two men for eix months. The sedition was contained in a resolution drafted by Flood, proposed it a mcetiiie in Christehiirch under the auspices ol the SecoJiil Division League by Lanjjley, and seconded by Hunter. The resolution was accepted by the chairman of the meeting, who was Mr. Holland, the Mayor of Christthureh, and it was carried by the meeting. Several petitions and resolutions were submitted to the Government asking for the release of the men imprisoned. These appeals'were considered by the Government yesterday, and the following ie the decision of the Government as announced;— "The Government has given careful consideration to the petitions for remission of the sentences imposed on these men and to tho representations made on their behalf, "It is necessary in the first place to dispose of the suggestion that the sentences were excessive. The Government considers that tho observations of the Ma"istrate when pronouncing judgment were entirely justified by the facts proved, and that, considering tho nature and circumstances of tho offence, tho sentences wero lenient. "The matters now urged upon the boy. eminent may bo appropriate to the exerciso of clemency bv the Crown, but are quite foreign to the considerations by which tho Magistrate was properly guided in his decision. The only circumstance which weighs with the Government in favour of the prayer for remission is that tho seditions nature of the resolution drafted by Flood, proposed by Langley, and seconded by Hunter was not obvious to the Mayor who presided, to the public men on the platform who abstained from protest, or to tho large number of persons who voted in favour of the motion when put by the Mayor. If proof could havo been obtained of active participation by other persons, the prosecution would have been instituted against otheis as well as against the three prisoners; but proof sufficient for a criminal caso was only available against tho three. "The Government ia willing to give credence to tho statements that the threo prisoners did not appreciate the full nature and effect of their actions, but the men have been justly sentenced, and it is most nece&sary that sedition should be 6temly suppressed during the war, and that no one should be led to suppose that such practices may bo indulged in with, impunity. For that reason the Government cannot advieo 3lis Excellency to exercise the Crown's prerogative of clemency unconditionally. It must require a condition that each of the men shall enter into a bond, with two sufficient sureties each in the,sum of .£SO, to be of good behaviour for a period of twelve mouths, and especially during that period to abstain from all acts and utterances having any seditious tendency. Upon those conditions being accepted and the necessary bonds duly executed the Government is prepared, under the epecial circumstances of the cose, and having regard to tho representations made by citizens of Christchurch whose loyalty is beyond question, to advise the release of the throe prisoners. It must be understood that this is not to constitute a precedent, and that'in future no excuso will be allowed in mitigation of the full- punishment which must follow such incitement to any class of the community to refuse obedience to the law, or the commission by any person, of any act which may tend to embarrass the Government and the country in tho due prosecution of tho war."

Sir James Allen made the following addition to the statement: "These men are' going to be retailed on their Endiug sureties, and not until they find th* sureties. The carrying out of this may occupy a few days. I want it to be understood that if there should be delay it will not be because we aro trying to create difficulties. It will be because the tiling must lie properly done, and tin sureties must be satisfactory." ■ Sir James Allen said that the Government had not dealt with the case of the man Chappie. "That case," he said, "is not in the same category as these others. He will receive no consideration whatever at tho hands of the Government. I can assure you of that."