SLASHED RIBBON

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1932, Page 5

SLASHED RIBBON

DE GROOT TRIAL PLAN TO DISCREDIT LANG. (Australian Press Association ) SYDNEY, April 5. The trial of De Groot’,s case in conj neetion with his action in cutting the ribbon at the Sydney Bridge opening ceremony, was continued to-day. De Groot was further cross-examined by Mr Barry, Crown Counsel. He said that he bad always been of the opinion j that an officer in uniform could not he arrested, except by a military officer of his own rank, and certainly not by ! a policeman. | Mr Barry: Were you convicted and fined 20s in 1930, for assaulting an old man ? De Groot: Yds, I remember assaulting somebody, for insulting my wife. Detailing his plans for preventing the Premier, Mr Lang, from opening the bridge, De Groot said that Colonel Campbell’s suggestion was that Mr Lang should be arrested for fraud and corruption. He (De Groot) had recommended that that be done later. De Groot added; “I suggested that it would be better to cast ridicule upon

him, cause no injury to anyone, anu yet make the whole world laugh. This scheme would not involve the New Guard. Moreover, nobody had tho right to stretch any ldnd of obstacle across a public road, therefore to cut the ribbon would constitute no offence 1 . Colonel Campbell agreed that tlris plan should be adopted.” During ‘the luncheon interval, the Police Magistrate, Mr Laidlaw, viewed the screening of the film, depicting De Groot cutting the bridge ribbon.

Doctor George Hamilton, who was an eye-witness to the ribbon cutting incident, said that he had not been offended by it. On the contrary, be had thoroughly approved of it “as a protest against Lang and his corrupt Government!” He added: “I regard De Groot’s action a,s a very plucky one, which was endorsed by loyal citizens of New South V ales.” The Magistrate, Mr Laidlaw, interjected: “This is no place for a political outburst. I will not allow such references to the Premier and to the Government as “corrupt.” Other witnesses were then called for the defence, who expressed approval of De Groot’s action, and entire disappointment of what they termed disloyalists on official stands, who failed to bare their heads and stand, while the National Anthem was being sung. The case will be concluded to-mor-roW.