TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1917, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

Per Press Association.—Copyright. Auckland, May 23 The death is am.ounced Of Senior* Sergeant Rutledge, of the polioe force in Auckland. TRIAL OF P.C. WEBB. CHRISTCHURCH May 24. Mr Bailey, S.M., in, giving judgment in the charge of seditious utterance against P. C. Webb, M.P., said that he felt that it was a case in which he must convict defendant. His Worship said he must consider the whole of the circumstances. Defendant attended a meeting of the Labour Party at a time when there was a strike on. The speech up to a certain point left nothing to be said against him, but towards the end of the speech he made use of the words in /the information, and other words. The words ho considered had offended against the angulations. Defendant must be convicted. His Worship enquired whether Sir, John FiLndlay wished to say anything in respect to the penalty. Sir John Findlay: “I prefer to reserve that for an appeal.” The Magistrate said ho would hear the other case before imposing the penalty. Sir John. Findlay said he would prefer that sentence should be imposeu before the second case was heard. „ While he respectfully dissented from his Worship’s judgment, and %vould advise defendant to appeal, ho would ask that his Worship consider the peculate- circumstances that surrounded this case. Looking at the good service the man had performed, and his obvious honesty of intention, the case was, .Jio submitted, not one in which severity should be applied. The Magistrate said he was ‘inclined to agree with counsel, for accused Webb had worked to got the strike finished, and he believed he was an instrument in settling other labour difficulties. His utterance was not oijearly so bad ns those of the other men.

Defendant was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, the - term date from the day of his arrest, May iLsfc. CHRISTCHURCH May 24. The hearing of the charge in respect to the speech at Taylorvillewas taken in the afternoon. Evidence as to the words used was given by Constable Rodgers, who was the only witness for the prosecution. Mr Bailey, S.M., in dismissing the case said that this case stood on a very different footing from the Greymouth charge, on which Webb had been convicted. The note was taken in long-hand, and. the Constable had to admit that even if he got portions of the sentence down accurately, ho had lost a lot. It was quite possible that there must he a good~jdeal be-, tween the f.wo sentences charged in the*" indictment, which would mj much modify it. The matter was also different in this way, that Webb was a member of Parliament., and was giving an account of his stewardship, and~accordingly more latitude might be allowed, although it could not be said that he would be allowed to speak sedition. Taking" all the circumstances into consideration lie did not think this was a case in which he should he convicted. Tho Paper Shortage Christchurch, May 24 Sir James Allen says that the num*. ber of Hansards printed next session will have to be reduced owing to the shortage of paper. Economising Coal Christchurch May 2 4 Sir James Allen, interviewed today, dwelt on the great ueoesaity for eoonomy in the consumption of coal, Jt is v uo use, he said, for one city (economising and the others not doing «o, There ought to be universal economy exarcisid throughout the Dominion. ■ ■—■mi ■ ■ Home Service Ken CHRisicnußCH, May 24 In raply to a question to-day S.r James Allen said : “I think it is intended that men in the First Division classed as 02 (home service) shall ba re-examined. My own opinioa is that every man in the First Division should be re-examined before the Second' Division is called up.” Aviation School. Auckland, May 23 Five pupils of the New Zealand , Flying School have qualified for the Royal Aero Club pilot certificate. They are—- - Henry L. Baylsy, Okoroire. Trevor ft, Bloomfield, Auckland. Ivo Carr, Feilding. Arthur K. Obeal, Wanganui, Richard J. Thompson, FeildiDg. Twenty-five pupils now have qual.* fied, Soldier’s Conference ) ~ Dunedin, May 25 Delegates from the Returned Soldiers Associations of tbe various centres of the Dominion met in conference to day. Prior to the opening of the conference, the Mayor and representatives of the citizens accorded the delegates a ■welcome. Damagas for Broken Leg. Wellington, May 22 .At the Supreme Court John Walsh recovered £IZS from William Butler as damages for injuries caused through a ladder on whioh plaintiff was painting a house carrying away. As the result of the fall plaintiff’s left leg was broken. The jury found that the ladder provided was unsafe. The original claim was for £255. Notice ,pf appeal was given,