ALLEGED SEDITIOUS INTENTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1578, 18 July 1916, Page 2

ALLEGED SEDITIOUS INTENTION.

THE FLAXWORKER S’ CIRCULAR. CHARGE AGAINST THE SECRETARY. Before Air J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., ut the Magistrate’s Court, Palmerston North, yesterday, Percy T. Robinson was charged on the information of the Police, that on Jane 12, inifi, at Palmerston North, New Zealand, he did express a seditious intention of delivering to a person unknown, a certain document, to wit, a certain letter in the words following, to wit: Mariawatu Flaxmills Employees’ Union, Britannia Buildings, June, 12th., 1010, Dear Comrade, —At the special mass meeting of the above union held on Saturday last, June 10th, 1910, for the purpose of

discussing conscription, the following resolution was unanimously carried;—-“That this meeting pledges itself by signature attached to form provided, that it will immediately go on strike the moment the Conscription Act is put into operation to enforce any man against his wish or conscience to join the forces, and that all (laxmills he circularised calling on members not present to give a similar undertaking. Further, tliis meeting resolves to act

upon any other suggestion that may he necessary to obstruct the Act." Acting under instructions from the above meeting, Mr J. Thorn or myself will visit your place of employment on Monday, •June 19lh, for (he purpose of getting signa lures to the above pledge. Kindly notify the workers of vour district.

Yours Faithfully, P. T. KORIN SON (Secretary)

Mr V. R. Meredith appeared for the Crown and Mr IT. R. Cooper for the defendant. Detective-Sergeant Quirke said

that he had interviewed Robinson on duly 3rd. Witness said to him, “A letter was sent by .you to the Premier embodying a resolution of the llaxmill workers that they would strike if forced to give military service.” AVilness showed Robinson the letter. Robinson had replied, •‘Yes, that’s it.” Tie (hen showed Robinson a circular. AVitness said that it was alleged that the circular

was scut round the flaxmills for signature. Robinsou said that it was liis signature at the bottom of the circular. AVitness then said to Mr Robinson, “At a meeting' held at Fox ton on June 26th last, at which yon and Mr Gavin Stove wore present, the same resolution was put to the meeting’ which was asked to a (firm it.” Defendant replied, “That’s not right.”

To Mr Cooper: Mr Robinson did not sav whether these were his own

sentiments or not. Mr Meredith said that the prosecution was based on clause 3 of the War Regulations Act, 1915. The letter was an expression in writing of seditious intention. The part of the letter referring to the intended visit of the secretary and Mr Thorn to rhe flaxmills with the intention of getting signatures was the subject

of the prosecution. Mr Cooper submitted that the prosecution had failed. DetectiveSergeant Quirke did not have the letter delivered to him, and it was not proved that the letter had been delivered to anybody; so that it bad not been published. Mr Meredith submitted that the more intention in writing was sutiicienr. It was not always possible to prove publication. The fact remained that Detective- Sergeant Quirke bad the document. The Magistrate said there was no evidence that Robinson had published the circular. Mr Cooper, continuing, said that defendant was the paid servant of the union. It was not suggested by (be evidence that he visited any place with the idea of getting signatures to the resolution. The objection of the union was to the clauses dealing with compulsory service of a man, irrespective of conscientious objections. Mr Robinson might object to the sentiment. Getting signatures to such a resolution was not sedition. The strike suggested was merely to show objection to the Conscription Bill. There might only be a strike for an hour, but it was to express disapproval of roping in the conscientious objactor. A nan to be guilty of a crime must intend to carry it out. Mr Robinson was entirely ignorant of the regulations when lie signed the circular. There was no publication, the act was not seditions, and defendant was only acting as a servant of the union. Mr Meredith, in reply, said that at the close of the letter it was suggested that Mr Robinson and Mr Thorn intended to call at the mills for signatures. A strike would cause monetary loss to the llaxmillers, and it would engender hostility among His Majesty’s subjects. It was a breach of the Industrial Conciliation Act. The resolution was meant to intimidate the Legislature in their steps for national safety. It was a threat to cause industrial chaos. If Parliament was liable to be threatened with proceedings of tins kind, members of Parliament would have to take into consideration the threats of any one part of the community. The Magistrate reserved his delusion.