BISHOP LISTON.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1922, Page 3

BISHOP LISTON.

hearing of the charge.

[by TELEGRAPH—PEB PIIEBS association]

AUCKLAND, May 1

Frank Bailer Usher gave evidence, and said he remembered the Bishop saying that his father and mother and many others were driven by their foreign masters from the land they loved as the country was wanted to be used as cattle ranches for the snobs of i England. Referring to Easter of 1916 | the Bishop said that so many people . had been murdered by foreign troops. 1 He said : —“We must not forget these people. Their memory will live #r ever in the Hearts of Irishmen.” Robert Beswiek, a Customs officer, gave evidence. He said he remarks that impressed him most were those with referenc to th* Bishop’s father , and mother; “that Irishmen had now received the first- instalment of their

freedom and were determined to have j the whole of it; that rulers of our little Empire who had heat that great j Empire should he able to get over its difficulties; that they must not forget the martyrs who died in 1916, the 155 men and women, including three priests who were proud to die for their country ; that some were shot, some were hung, some died in the hunger strike, murdered by foreign troops.” Mr Conlan, counsel for Bishop Liston said: When lie had perused the reported statement, and knowing what His Lordship’s feelings towards his country were, he could find in the reportno seditious word or no seditious intent. He referred to the right of free speech as one of the finest privileges of the nation. Counsel said that perhaps the reason of this right was that 1 tliose'who ruled our destiny considered ' it much better that men should "speak their own minds, and not bottle their views up. Mr Conlan recalled that in the British House of Commons in replying to a question as fo whether steps would he taken to punish those who made seditious utterances in Hyde Park. London, the Home Secretary; Rt Hon. Mr Shortt, said:—So long as there was no breach of the peace caused, and so long as the speeches did not advocate direct violence, there was no need to take any notice of them.” Mr Shortt had also said that, to some extent Hyde Park had conic to be recognised as tile safely valve of London, tie Irish Question, by a Bishop, who, by virtue of his sacred office, must not break the law, hut must do all lie could to uphold it. The wording of the speech would not appeal to people ill Ireland, who probably would lake no notice of it. No words in the speech at alf incited or moved anyone to violence. There were words f lint might he considered indiscreet and unpalatable, hut. however much the Magisi rate might think (hat were so. counsel, i.oped he would agree with him there hail Le’o no great illwill, or any disturbance. - Mr Meredith replied. The Magistrate said :— Following authorities on the offence of sedition, it appears to me that in four respects, at least, the speech is seditious. That is, in the words of the Crimes Act,- it was likely to raise discontent or dissatisfaction among His Majesty’s subjects, or to promote feelings of illwill and hostility between different classes of such subjects. It would he improper for me to comment urn n, or to atl.itipl to analyse t''e speech. It might prejudice the ease in the Higher Court. The Magistrate said that, in his opinion, the ease against Bishop Listen should go before the Supreme Court. Tic accordingly committed him. Bail was allowed in the Bishop’s own recognisances for £loo.’ In order that a person might he convicted of making seditions utterances, said counsel, two ingredients had to he proved: First, the words must he seditions, and second, there must he n seditious intent. There was not the slightest sign of any disturbance on the present occasion, and one must assume that the audience simply went quietly home. Counsel said that a

criminal intention on the part of the accused had to he shown. Nothing was further from the mind of His Lordship i'an to commit a crime.

Mr Onion said he wanted to men- j lion some of the special circumstances j which might appeal to the Magistrate, i The speech was made on tlm night oi : St Patrick’s Day. to Irish people, on ;