TWO MEN CHARGED

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1932, Page 6

TWO MEN CHARGED

f ''- : .) •BESETTING RELIEF WORKERS. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) PALMERSTON NORTH, Sept. 23. ■ John Harvey Blair', a restaurant keeper, four charge.s, and Albert Lewis, ia labourer, One charge, appear.-' ed in the Magistrate’s • Court, for allegedly 'besetting relief workers a few Mays ago. Lengthy evidence was heard in which the police stated that Riair’s -shop contained Soviet literature, and in Lewis’ possession there -had been found a Communist member'Sliip card and badge. A witness. : sqid- that Bl'air and a picket of twenty-five, men visited relief works, at one of which, Blair laddressed the workers stating that it was (Understood ..that the Unemployment Board’s policy intended to include that married men should also go to the canijps. The evidence in the charge against Lewis stated that he was the possessor of a cfaniera with which be photographed men leaving for relief , works. Lewis denied that the photographs were for propaganda purposes, ipul the defence was that the charges Were'; laid under the English Act, 1825, under which picketing in a trade dispute was not unlawful. ■The Magistrate reserved his decision in all qases. Bail was renewed.