ALLEGED SEDITION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1824, 9 May 1918, Page 3

ALLEGED SEDITION.

AT CHRISTCHURCH MEETING.

A sequel to the public meeting at Christchurch on Sunday evening, 28th April, convened by the local Second Division League, is the laying of informations against Hiram Hunter, ,E. Langley, and J. Flood, under war regulations covering statements of “seditious intention” and “seditious tendency.” The alleged seditious matter is a proposal by Langley: “That this meeting of Christchurch citizens is of opinion that no Second Division man should leave for camp until the demands of the Second Division League are conceded by the Government; and also that it demands that an election be held immediately.” Also a proposal by Flood: “That the first line of the Second Division shall not be broken, and that no man shall leave for camp until the terms of the league have been acceded to.”

The action is under clauses e and k of the War Regulations* of 4th December, 1916. Clause (e) covers behaviour or words “interfering with recruiting, training, discipline, equipment, or administration of His Majesty’s Forces, or with the effective conduct of military or naval preparations or operations of His Majesty or his Allies, either in New Zealand or elsewhere.”

Clause (k) covers words or behaviour to “excite or encourage opposition to the enforcement or administration of laws in force for the time being, either in New Zealand or in any other part of His Majesty’s Dominions, relative to compulsory military training or service during the present war, or to interfere with the effective enforcement and administration thereof.” It was expected that the ease would come on at Christchurch today. Apparently the maximum penalty for offences covered by these regulations is imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or a fine not ex* needing £IOO.