CONVICTION OF COMMUNIST

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1931, Page 2

CONVICTION OF COMMUNIST

IDLE AND DISORDERLY WORKER FOR “THE CAUSE” CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 5. “Why do you not go to Russia?” was a- question asked Charles Francis Riley, a Communist, aged 3/" years, in the -Magistrate’s Court this morning. “We are supposed to- carry cn the work was Riley’s reply, lie was charged with being an idle and disorderly person, in that he had insufficient lawfu] meats of support-.

Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., mas on the Bench. Senior-Sergeant Fox conducted the prosecution. Riley was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within months. “1 would like to have the charge amended,” announced Riley. It was explained that it could not be done, other than by the police yr itie- Court. “Well, I would like to see someone else in the box with mfe. They should be herfe.”

seii : dr-sergealit said that Ril'y had been living on charity and doilig his best to stir up trouble. The otms was on accused to show that lie hud means or had made an endeavour to get work. The first witness called was J. W. Feanlard, chnirmjan of the Works Committee of the Christchurch City Council. Ke said that Riley had used very offensive language to him on one occasion when working on relief in Baibadoes Street. Witness had no other alternative than to tell the foreman. to .send Riley to the office for his pay and leave the job. This incident occurred about eight weeks ago. “No, 1 don’t want to ask him questions. He’s biased,’’ said Riley.

HOISTED THE RED FLAG

Tho foreman of a gang working in tho Public Gardens sa ; d that when Riley was working there he hoisted a red flag on one occasion. Riley had also organised meetings to complain of the work of witness. Another witness stated that the las! time Riley had applied for reli f work was on October 5 and not since. If he had registered as required he would have received some work.

Detective Laugesen said that Riley had done no work for a long time. He had relied on charity and centred his energies on Communist activities - -public speaking and issuing and circulating 'inflammatory literature 1 . Riley had told witness that he had don't) no work for two months, arid when arrested said, “We must expect this. It is all for the Cause.” He predicted ' that there would be a revolution in Australia within tho next two months and that the Red Flag “would he hoisted where it belonged.” “You are called on to show to my satisfaction that you have been working or that you have no‘t been working because of some misfortune or stress of the times,” said the Magistrate. Riley said that he finished work two months ngo. Ho had been ill for three weeks and went to the North Island. Questioned in regard to where his funds came from, Riley said that be received 'assistance from an organisation known as the F.O.S.R. The Magistrate: What is that? Accused: Friends of Soviet Russia. Who subscribes to it ?—Mostly people of the wealthy like yourself. I belong to the hard-working class. I guarantee that I work ten times as hard as you do or ever have.—l don’t .- think so. ! What is the object of the subsidy from Soviet Russia ?—lt comes from my friends and not from Russia. “I am not going to work for IPs 9d a week,” announced Riley. “I was born an Anglo-Celt and I am not going to be a party to slave Labour.” “It means your bread and butter,” said the Magistrate.—“ Yes, but we don’t live by bread, alone. If you find me a job on union rates at £4 a week I’ll work all right,” said Riley. “Where do you get your instructions from to carry on in New Zealand?” asked the Magistrate.—“ That’s my business.” said Riley. EXTRACTS FROM LITERATURE The Magistrate amused the Court by reading extracts from literature found in Riley’s possession at the time of bis arrest. A sample was:“The Communist Party will not stand for tho prostitution of the working class philosophy by any insolent lackeys of the master class.” “What effort have you made to get work?” asked the Magistrate.—“l’m not a slave,” was the reply. I’m not going to work for IBs 9d a week.” “It is a problem what is the -best tiring to do with you. I tiling it is to put veu in a place where you have to work.”—“l’m not going to commit myself.” “Why do you not act the man and try to help your wife, and children along, instead of indulging in rubbish like this?”—“lts not rubbish its the truth.” “I 'think you co prostituting your intelligence. T think you are a fairly intelligent man if you direct your elf in the proper way. 1 don’t suppose anyone will give you work.” Sentence was deferred until the afternoon. When the Court resumed the Mag-

istrate said, lie understood that Riley was willing to work on relief. “It is the only way out.” said ey“l have been waited on during the lunch hour by three gentlemen belonging to til'd Communist Party.” said the Magistrate, “ and they inform me that the statement that £1 a week came from the Friends of Soviet Russia is untrue, and must be the result of Riley’s own imaginai.on.” “I don’t think so,” said Riley.