COMMUNISTS CHARGED

Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1929, Page 6

COMMUNISTS CHARGED

SEQUEL TO ' WELLINGTON POLICE RAID. '; (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) ‘ ' : WELLINGTON, Oct; /.20. Raids by police officers on the premises .of the Communist Party made in Wellington in July and August last, resulted in four pien,. RichardGGriffen, Arthur Pinch Marshall, Gordon ward Muiirb, f aiiT’William MurjfiryGbe*.! irig chargeif'ih the Magistrate's ‘Upjiift-to-day with' having' literature in ‘their pQifse|s|p)a charaeteyl . t-' v There were two charges against each of the: defendants relating tp the possession of the following "»88ks : “Communism arid Peace, fence of Communisth,” “Mond Moonshine,” “World Trade'Union Alove.ment” and “Letter to 1.W..W.” One. man was also charged with’ having sold to Constable George. Thomas Deakin “Comfriunism arid Industrial Peace” and other publications advocating violence or expressing a seditious intention.

Mr Page, S-M.,; was on the bench. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr P. S. K. ,Mac&s.spjQ prp v nish appeared for Griffin and Murphy, fajad'AhS for Munro. Mr Macassey contended the publications jt’ero such a<s would, tend.to pros%t|yfjl l^.stM!|'|#f-fei-ehl sclaves ?’ofi &e.-Ucnmmuni4J) nnid Evidence ‘ivfrs "glvefc By pbnce officers who had attended meetings of the •’feommunist Party?’* it was suggested with a ivew to winning them .over to ■ Communism, but a member ‘of the Party objected that it would not be •wise to approach- the police. Thq only way to deal with them would be to go to them one by one arid knock them on the head. (Laugh.te;).

Decision was reserved in the case against the four Communists for possession of alleged seditious literature.