Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1932, Page 4

The ribbon-cutting incident at tho opening of the Sydney Bridge lias ended in Captain De Groot being convicted and fined £5 on the charge of offensive behaviour. Also he had to endure a wed expressed lecture from the presiding Magistrate. The incident is certainlv a reflection on the New Guard. The day before the all important event of the opening of the Bridge, the leader of the New Guard stated nothing would be done in protest at Mr I.ang opening the Bridge, as events at Canberra promised-to deal with the offending Premier. Yet at the trial it is disclosed that what was done was pre-arranged. The defendant further brought his bona fides into question, by declaring he was an* noyed that some of the principal people On the official stand did not recognise the National Anthem as it should have been done. This offence might have added, to the annoyance of He Groot, hut it was not the incentive because he was operating on a pre-arranged plan agreed to with the executive of the New Guard. We take it that the expressed intentions of the New Guaid are too high to descend to subterfuge, and the organisation will decline in public favour because of its lack ot good faith. The Magistrate did quite right to give the offender the full penalty, for the offhnee was one against lawful authority and good order. Mr Lang as the head of the Government had the right to perform the principal part of the great and historical function. That lie had the right was the will of the people in pacing him in power. There is «* constitutional way to mark a protest, hut the New Guard did not act along those lines. They began by deception ami ended bv a grotesque act wlucn lost its humour in the fact that u great national event in the history of New South Wales was sought- to he turned into a burlesque. The offender on the whole, has got off too lightly for his mischevious act.