ALLEGED THEFT

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1932, Page 6

ALLEGED THEFT

OF COMMUNIST FUNDS

FROM THIRD INTERNATIONAL

WELLINGTON, November 16,

Allegations regarding tbe extent to which the Third Internationale at Berlin are financing Communist organisations in New Zealand were made at the Magistrate’s Court to-day during the hearing of a ease against Philip Gordon Brazier, a labourer, and Stuart McColl, a. labourer, who were charged with stealing from the Labour Defence League sums of money amounting to £44. McColl was further charged with stealing from 'the same persons one hundred dollars (£3O). The police statement of the case was to the effect that on July 5, 1932, Brazier and McColl. wer© elected Chairman aiio Sie.ereta.ry of the League, which drew its constitution from a copy of the constitution of the International Bed Aid of Berlin. On May 18, Bowen, a member of the League Committee cabled to Berlin for funds required by the League to assist a prisoner in connection with the Auck- , -riot, and as a result, two sums olf £3O and £BB were sent to the Wellington Labour Defence League. McColl failed to account for the £3O which he had received, and of the other sum, the accused received £44, for which they failed to account. Evidence on these lines was continued throughout to-day. Both accused'pleaded not guilty, and Were committed to the Supreme Court. Bail was renewed at £2OO oaeli, with a. surety of £2OO.