ROBERT SEMPLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1651, 16 December 1916, Page 3

ROBERT SEMPLE.

SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT. Christ church, Dec. 15. Robert Semple,, on each of three charges of seditions utterances at Auckland, "Wellington and Christchurch, was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. Air 11. W. Bishop, S.Ai., said much of the speech at Wellington flint had been quoted was admirable mailer, but did not coincide with the sentiments expressed in Com') by the accused, who seemed to have an unhappy way of expressing his publicmeaning. It was a pity he did not use his talents instead of wasting (hem in this wav.

A CCUSED’S DEFENCE. MAGISTRATE SUMS UP. Christchurch, Last Night. In the Semple case the accused, addressing (he Bench, protested against not being allowed bail and also against tho ease being hoard in Christchurch. In (he message from the Australian people to New Zealand he was referring to a fight nt the ballot box, not physical violence. He was an anti-conscripti-onist, but not an enemy of his country. He bad eleven relatives at the front, and his only brother was killed in the Boer War. The remarks attributed to him were absolutely correct, but a wrong interpretation had been placed upon them. If he bad urged the-people of the country to rebellion he would be a traitor and would deserve to be shot. His party felt that they were within the law in making the statements they had done, but it was for His Worship to decide whether he had overstepped the mark, not he. He had rend remarks by a man called Lill to the effect that he (Lill) hoped that a German bomb would drop in our midst just because there had been a rise in butler. He himself wanted to hurt no man. He respected the Government as citizens, but disagreed with their policy. He did not wish to murder them, but to murder their politick and argument.

The Mn gist rate, Mr H. \V. Bishop, said that in the face of Semple's speceh and in the, face of the newspaper reports of his speeches he (His Worship) was hound to explain what exactly avus Ids position under the law in'justification of the decision lie was about to make. No one for a moment could doubt that Semple had brought: himself under the sedition (danse of the Crimes Act. He had listened to Semple’s first address with much interest. Some of Semple’s ideas were admirable, and if those Avere his (rue sentiments he had not shown himself in his true light from the public platform. He had evidently a most unhappy way of conveying his ideas. “1 .think for the moment that the (one these, reports convey are your true intentions. Yon are a man of evident ability,” his Worship continued, “and it is a pity that you prostitute that ability —prostitute is the only word. If you Avere to use your ability in a great avuv you could do a tremendous amount of good.”

His proceeded to read extracts from flu* speeches not mentioned in ilm charges. “] cannot say that in those you have done a very "rent deal lo encourage recruiting. II: you go on speaking in this way you must inevitably land yourself in trouble. I have come to (he conclusion that the words you have uttered have been highly seditious and a direct incitement to violence, whatever you may have had in your mind, and an encouragement to forcible opposition lo the laws of New Zealand. That is my conclusion, and I am very sorry for it. It is my duty to stop you as much as 1 can. 1 caret allow any man to interfere with those who arc upholding the Mmpire to which l am proud lo belong. The time will come' no doubt when this war will bo over and you and others will he able to say what you like about conditions obtaining in this country during war time, but now it is dangerous and 1 must put a stop to it. There are three charges, and you are sentenced to twelve months on each, sentences to run concurrently.” Mr Raymond, K.C., intimated that the remaining charges would Ire held over.