"RED FLAG " BAND

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1931, Page 11

"RED FLAG " BAND

U-NEMPLOYED PICKET

FINES AT CHRISTCHURCH

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHUBCH, 6th October

Singing "The Red Flag" as they were brought to the. Magistrate's Court in a police van, the eight members of the unemployed ■ workers' movement who were arrested for picketing relief workers in tho Botanical Gardens on 2Sth September, were brought before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today on charges arising from the incident. Fines were imposed on five of the men, the charges against the other three- being dismissed.

The accused were Herbert Edwin BarnsIcy, accountant, aged 51; Ernest Llev.ellyn Jones, labourer, 24; Alexander Braid Blanco, 27; Percy Ede, a. cook, 25; Leonard James Kosevear, painter, 39; David Carroll Watson, labourer, 36; .Ronald Hicks, labourer, 21; and James Mackay, seaman, 35. They, were charged with intimidating by unlawfully besetting persons at the place at which they were working, with a view to compelling them' to abstain from working.

llarnsley asked that the case be heard by another Magistrate.

Moslcy

"Why?"

Barnsley: "On the ground that you have shown bias on previous occasions when cases concerning the movement have come before the Court.".

Mr. Mosley: "The application is refupol."

Krle, Jones, and Kosevcar pleaded not guilty, and the others refused to plead, which was accepted by the Magistrate as a plea of not guilty. Barnsley maile a move to go out oE tho dock, and a brief struggle occurred. Mr. Mosley: "What's the matter?" Barnsley: "I am not going to-stay and hear the case."

Mr. Mosley: "Oh, aren't you, really? I think you are." The case then proceeded. It was stated that .the unemployed workers' movement objected to the rule of the Hospital' Board that able-bodied men supplied with rations should do work for the Domains Board equivalent to the value of tho rations.

It was alleged that the accused had been active in trying to prevent men from doing this work. Barnsley was secretary of the movement. There were notices on trees in the park, reading: "Ration work declared black. Be men and stand oft." In evidence, Jones said he was in the. park solely as a spectator, not as a demonstrator. Ede and Roscvear also denied that they had taken any part in the picketing. The Magistrate said he was not satisfied that Jones and Ede were deliberately guilty of besetting and the charges against them were dismissed. Rosevear's participation was slight, and the charge would be dismissed. The others were guilty of besetting, and the only question was what punishment 6bould be given. A voice: "Deal it out." Mr. Mosley said the maximum fine was £20, in default imprisonment up to three months. Barusley and Blance were each fined £10, in default two months; Hicks £3, in default 21 days; Mackay £5, in default one month; and Watson £5, in default one mouth.