RED PROPAGANDA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 167, 9 April 1919, Page 8

RED PROPAGANDA

ADVOCATING LAWLESSNESS

SENTENCE OF 12 MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT

The methods of some of the* extremist Labour fanatics to foment industrial strife were disclosed in a, criminal prosecution at the Magistrate's Court yesterday when a middle-aged man named William Parker appeared to answer a chaw of having iii his possession for distribution a document headed "The Lockout," such document inviting, cnKwraging, advising, and advocating lawlessness, contrary to War Regulations dated September'2o, J915. <.Mr. 1\ V. Frazer, S.M., was on the bench, and Chief-Detective Boddam prosecuted. Accused was unrepresented by counsel. The document was shown the accused to read, but he expressed a desire that it should be read in the court by the Clerk of the Court. Accused, said that Lis eyesight prevented him from reading it. However,' the leaflet was not read, and the accused admitted the offonce according to the Court's interpretation of the document. From His point of view no offence had been committed. Anyone who expected justice from the Court.s as at present constituted was, ho said, a fool. The worker was entitled to what he- produced by his labour, and in the leaflet headed "The Lockout" lie had advised workers to go dead slow, as it was the only power they had over the class that lived ,by robbery. Each time the Magistrate endeavoured to obtain from accused some explanation for his action, Parker proceeded s to abuse the "master" class. His Worship remarked that he could not agree with accused, who replied, "I could not expect you to agree with it." The Magistrate: -You may know more about economics than I; but it may interest you to know that I took honours in oc/noniics at the University. However, some people have corns on their hands and some have corns oh their brains ■' The accused: Well, I don't think you are likely to have either. ; His Worship proceeded to ask accused if ,he had jiny legal ~ excuse to offer for publishing the leaflets, and accused replied that from'the point ot view of the law as at present constituted he did not. The members of Parliament and tho city councillors did just as they liked, and he thought he would start something stranger. The working'man had to submit to the master class. . The Magistrate: I would like you _to get it into your head that I'm a working I couldn't-jet that into .my head. / „„ , ~ The Magistrate: You fellows don't seem- to realise that even the poorest working inan's son can work himselt up to any position. The accused: No, he cant. Iliad to put my son to work.on the,wharf. . The Magistrate: Well, mine are hardly old enough. ■ ' {'■ ... ■■ ~,,. The .accused: You are cue of those little George Washingtons. ' . . Tho Magistrate: There you are again-, more of ypur silly talkAccused went on to say that it was a few of tho shipping companies and capitalists who were .responsible for tho present action against himself. Had it not been for them the police would not have interfered. ' Chief Detective Boddam then proceeded to relate the facts of the case. He said that accused had been-arrested by Detective : Carney on the previous day,and had admitted that the leaflets were his, and that he had had them printed. One hundred and eighty-eight were found on accused, and„ when, his houso was searched six hundred r.ioro wore discoyTh'e accused: It is a pity to waste them. - ~ .. .. Chief Dotective Boddam said thej would'not be wasted. The leaflets had been circulated at Christchurch, and some had been circulated at the Petone meat works. Accused: Oh, yes, we have ships running everywhere. ■ Unfortunately, continued the chief detective, Parker was a married man with several young children-— - Accused:. No bouquets I Cut that out Chief Detective Boddam: The accused has been before tho Court before, and was convicted for a similar offence in 'In summing up, His Worship said it was to be regretted that leaflets of the class before the Court had been circulated, especially at a time w'hen efforts were being made both by the Labour Party and the Employers federation to bring about a conference with the idea of arriving at some satisfactory basis of settlement in regard to various industrial matters. Accused: No. Tho workers forced the cmployers,t,o do this. .',,,. . Continuing, His Worship said that one did not wish to soethe employers resort to a lock-out or to see the employees resorting to strikes. Accused: That is the only way w'e can get what we, want. His Worship said that the circulation of these dangerous leaflets might undo any good that might result from the proposed conference. AV.hen a "go-slow" policy was urged in order that no surplus should be created, those advocating it failed to. realise that without that ourplus neither wages to the worker noi dividends to the could bo paid. The accused again interjected, and remarked that His Worship was on the (loafers' side, and therefore was unable 'to accept'accused's'reasoning; "It ia better for you to say, ,"Poi hell with the proceedings,' and'give me the sentence you are trained to give—you are not. paid to hand out justice," said the accused.' Tho Magistrate: That is the first timo I have heard that. *

Accused: Look at all .these fat, greasy loafers (accused included all who were sitting at the tables, the Press and the police).' Concluding, the Magistrate said that tho offence was a dangerous one and most unwise at the present time. Ho would have to givo the full sentence he was entitled to inflict for such a crime. Accused would be sentenced to twelve months" imprisonment, with hard labour. "Thank you, very much. I suppose you have done your best,'' said the accused as he left the dock.