WORKERS OBJECT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1931, Page 2

WORKERS OBJECT

TO GAOLING OF PROTESTORS. (By Telegraph —Per Press Association) AVETjLINGTON, October 15. Protesting against the conviction arid sentencing of James Henry Edward’s, of Auckland, for inciting lawlessness, a deputation representing the Unemployed Workers’ A Love men t waited upon the A 1 mister of Justice, the Hon. .J. 8% Coble this afternoon. in the' workers’ opinion, the speakers stated, a. conviction ani-d the sentence of one month’s imprisonment passed by Air Hunt was a miscarriage of. justice. Edwards and sixteen- fellow workers had decided that - family were not to he evicted. Their sole reason for -so doing was that the n an was on relief works, and did not ea: enough to pa.v rent and keep a family. Air J. Turner, chairman of the deputation of three, appealed to the Alims ter to look into the matter. In reply, the Minister said that if the- unemployed would cease agitating, there would be no workers put in gaol. Air Turner said the discontent which is among the workers to-day was caused by the conditions which they had to contend with. “It 1s absurd that they should quit agitation” he said. The AI. inis ter promised to look into the matter, but said that h" could do practically nothing, as the Magistrate had gone his duty, and he would not he biased in any way.