TWO COMMUNISTS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1930, Page 7

TWO COMMUNISTS

SENT TO GAOL. [By Telegraph, Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, ; Dec. 27. Richard Francis Griffin, aged 30, bookseller, and John Joseph Robinson, aged 30, miner, were each charged in the Police Court to-day with inciting people to resist, assault, or obstruct , the police, with inciting lawlessness, and with causing traffic, obstruction in the street. Griffin was charged further with using insulting , language, and Robinson with delivering a speech on Queen’s Wharf, and causing a crowd to gather. The first three charges arose from a meeting held in D’ixon .Street on Sunday week last, in which both participated. On each of the first two charges, each man was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent, and on the remaining charge isthey were convicted and discharged. “Capitalist class justice! Dish it out!” cried Robinson, in a loud voice when the Magistrate was giving judgment. The court listened to the M.ieistrate’s reply: “What did you say?” he asked. “Dish it out!” Robinson replied The Maistrate did not reprimand him, and offered the prisoner an ouportunity to change his plea oi guilty to not guilty, - ' A moment or two later, ho,rover, the prisoner broke out again; “I understand that the justice I get now will be capitalist class justice,” he said. Cries of “Hear hear” came from the back. “The justice you get, I hope, is the law of this lane!—the same as anyone else,” said the Magistrate. Both are members of tbe Communist Party, and they said farewell to a crowded court after sentence bad been passed, the crowd subsequently cheering them as they were taken away ’in the police van.