THE GAUDIN CASE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 735, 9 January 1915, Page 5

THE GAUDIN CASE.

The friands of b\ E. N. Gaudin, of Auckland, who Was sentenced to five veers' hard lab jar for conveying correapcnde'jco and spacie from Samoa, are taking active steps to have the penalty reduced. A meeting was held in Auckland on Wednesday evening, and resolutions Were- carried in the direction indicated. Mr -M. M. McCallum, who proceeded tn Samoa with Gaudin, and was present at the trial, stated emphatically that all the evidence adduced showed that the accused at the worst was merely performing thoughtlessly what in peace times would have been an ordinary act of'courtesy.' The first rwqueat of the Gaudin Defence Committee is that the wfcole of the evidence at the trial, should be published.

THE MINISTER APPROACHED. At a result of the meeting which was held on Wednesday at Auckland, in connection'with the sentiee passed 'upon F. E. N. Gaudin at Samoa, anJ at which a resolution was carried, setting forth the views of those present, Mr T. N. Baxter, who presided, haa written to'tha Minister for Defence. After quoting the resolution, which has already been published, and which requested the Minister to furnish to the press of the Dominion at the earliast possible moment full and rornplete account of th 9 proceedings at the trial. Mr Haztsr says: - ' I would K:oi:-t nut th«t She people o? Auckland fsr] keenly that a serious wrong h"s bern dare to a felluwcitisan for whs*, at isosr, appears to have been' an act of i:iriis?retion. "It appears to be quite clear that Mr Gaudin did not at ary time intend to injure his country or benefit the enemy, and that he merely failed to obsaive, certain regulations, . the breach of which involved no risk to the lives, property, or interests of any kind of any person or community, end that his failure to observe -Birch regulations was due—To his desire to oblige persona with whom he waa associated . in'.'business, or, .otherwise personally acquainted; and his desire to collets -debts dae to his Srm, without the collection of which-, his firm-could not have continued to carry on easiness.

"May I urge you to give effect to the resolution and consider whether the breach of the regulations could riot: be adequately met by- the imposition of a fine." >