SATURDAY’S DISTURBANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1931, Page 5

SATURDAY’S DISTURBANCE

(By Telegraph —Per Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, August 4. In the Communists’ ease, the Magistrate said that there had been much contradictory evidence,' but- -it was impossible for him to conclude that the police officers, *as had been alleged, had, at the risk of ; their own lives, incited the crowd to attack them. • McKegney on the charge of unlawfully resisting arrest, was sentenced to three months’ hard labour. Dodge, for resisting arrest,- was sentenced to two months’; hard labour. Riley,was fined £5 for disorderly behaviour. Dodge and Riley were each fined £2 for taking part in an unauthorised procession. The Magistrate held that . the charges of inciting to lawlessness were proven, but he said he did not wish to be unnecessarily hard on the men. who had been punished for other offences. He dismissed the informations, using his discretionary powers under the Offender’ Probation Act.

Riley asked for time to pay tbe fine, but he refused to accept the Magistrate’s condition that, if allowed a month, lie should refrain in the meantime from associating himself with lawlessness of a similar kind. Thereupon the Magistrate said that no time would bo allowed. The fine must he paid forthwith. Tn default there would lie two months’ imprisonment. Harris pleaded not guilty to a charge of using insulting language in a public, place. A charge of using indecent language against him was withdrawn. After hearing evidence, the Magistrate dismissed the 'charge, saying he would give Harris the benefit pf the rijoubt,