Evading Censorship

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 September 1916, Page 3

Evading Censorship

! CHARGE AGAINST H. W. REY- ) XOLDiS. (Christ-church Star.; At the Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., Henry W. Reynolds was charged under the censorship regulation with attempting to avoid the censorship by enclosing one letter within another. Mr S, G. Raymond, K.C.. for the Crown, said that defendant had written to the town clerk at Runangki, enelc.eirig a letter for delivery to a third person. The Magistrate remarked that the maximum penalty under the .regulation., was twelve months' imprisonment. The defendant might have the right of tri'nl by jury. Mr 'Raymond said that defendant, who was a bootmaker with premises in Colombo Street, had posted a statement in his shop window to the effect tlnat his ;orrespoiidence was opened by the .military censor, and thia.t one letter had been detained for nineteen days. The letter which formed the subject of the present case den It with the subject of certain socialistic books and pamphlet* which defendant had for sale. Mtiny of these publications were of an antiniilitarist character, and as suc-h were detrimental to the interests of this country. In this ease there had been 'n distinct and deliberate attempt to avo'd the censorship, and the offence was a very serious one. The Magistrate remarked that any attempt to evade the War Regulations Act was m serious offence. Evidence was given by Detective T. Gibson that the letter produced by Mr Raymond was in the handwriting of defendant. John Peter Quartius douston. resistant censor of postal packets i;it Christchurch Po.st Office, gave evidence tlwit he opened a letter addressed to the town clerk at Runanga. and found a sealed envelope enclosed. He knew Reynoldis's handwriting tmd that caused him to open the envelope.

Defendant asked witness why a letter addressed to witness wars detained.

Witness said lie had no authority to answer any questions of that character.

The Magistrate said that the times were unusual, and the oireumstances were unuwial, and the privilege and convenience of citizens h'adl to he made ■subservient to considerations of the safety of the country.

The defendant said the hooks lie was selling were publications of the Fabian Society. One of them "A Joy for Ever,'' was by John Ruskin.

The Mag'strate said the defendant could flood the whole country with such books if lie liked) in a log!vl way. but the character of the books was not on trial. 'The matter at issue was whether defendant sought to evade the censorship.

Defendant said he sent one letter direct to his Runangn correspondent. |:ind a duplicate addressed to the town clerk at Runanga with the object of avoiding delays through the censor holding up his letters. The Magistrate: AA'hy do you set yourself up against the law and against public sentiment in this country, MiReynolds? Aou plaster your windows with 11 11 sorts of statements, that anyone can see. Defendant said that since he was last before the Court he had done nothing worse than display the Maoriland AVorker for sale. Mr Raymond handed in a letter written by defendant to the Minister of Justice protesting against conscription and military rule and condemning the war. The Magistrate, after reading the letter out, remarked tlifit the war was an accomplished fact, and nothing that Mr Reynolds could do in Colombo street would alter it. Mr Raymond said he was assured by the police that defendant wrote insultiuig letters to the relatives of soldiers who had fallen at the front. Tlie Magistrate asked what warrant there was for such a charge. Mr Raymond' said he mad© it on the strength of an official statement. Defendant said that what was referred to was a letter he had written to hie brother-in-law. His quarrel was against these who made the war, not against his brother-in-law, or brother-in-law's dead soldier son. His brother-in-law was very annoyed and wrote to Jiim asking for an apology. Defendant at once apologised! for any words which might have caused pain.

Defendant went on to say that tlio war was a capitalists' war.

The Magistrate said that as neither defendant nor himself were behind the .scenes, neither conld say exactly what causes lay behind the war. His own view after reading many white books, blue books and yellow books bearing on the .subject, -was that greed of Empire was at. the bottom of it, and not the interests of any set of capitalists. He did not feel inclined to punish defendant severely, and because he felt very ■strongly himself that at this time every nwin should be helping his country, ho woukli not impart his own feelings into .the penalty- Defendant would be (sentenced to three mouths' imprisonment, with hard labour.