ARREST OF P. C. WEBB, M.P.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1917, Page 3

ARREST OF P. C. WEBB, M.P.

Breach of War Regulations. The Member Interviewed. (Special to Guardian.) \ Wellington, May 2 In political circles ia. Wellington and among the Wert Coasters a powerful sensation was created yesterday afternoon by the arrest of Mr P. 0. Webb, M.P. for Grey. It had been known that for some time secret agents had been tracking him, seeking a prosecution. He was arrested on a charge of having uttered seditious ladgnage, in a speaoh made on the West Coast, during the recent coal strike, Mr Webb, who only recently returned from the Const, was staying at the City Hotei. Ha was arrested in the afternoon and conveyed to Christchurch in the ferry boat under escort, He will ba brought before the Magistrate there and charged with a breach of the War Regulations. The police when asked for information in regard to the arrest and the charge, declined to make any statement.

Several months ago Mr Webb was challenged by a section of his con■tituents to resign, and contest the ■eat upon his attitude in regard to current question?. The challenge was repeated sinoe the announcement of the resnlt of the municipal elections. Mr Webb stated to a representative yesterday, that be would accept it and resontest the Grey constituency, if he receives a requisition from a thousand electors of the district to that effect. “My offer holds gcod,” said Mr Webb, aod I still think that New Zealand has been so far ahead of the other Dominions in regard to the supply of man power that conscription is •unnecessary. lam convinced tnafc no Member should continua to hold his ■eat a moment longer than hs represents the view of the majority of his constituents, and I regret that Parliament extended its own life without a mandate from the people.” When Mr Webb was asked bow his mining constituents reconciled their attitude against- conscription with their refusal voluntarily to continua work iD an essential industry, he replied that until thß recent trouble no mines in the world had been so free from strikes during the war. With fewer men they hid produced more coal and made a world’s record in the amount of coal hewn per man. Except for the 10% war beaus, the miners were obtaining the same pay as before the war, and no on 9 o*n accuse the miners of not enlisting, for it had been found necessary to stop further enlistments so as to secure the coal supply.

Mr Webb contended that tbe miners had tried, under the - most trying •ircumstanccs, to prevent their giiev* unce reaching fha 3cuta stage of a ■trike.