RED LITERATURE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2535, 27 January 1923, Page 3

RED LITERATURE.

Auckland, Last Night,

A charge of selling literature calculated to encourage violence and lawlessness was preferred against William Henry Sheffield, at the Police Court to-day. Defendant stathe was a member of the Executive of the New Zealand Communist Party. Counsel for the prosecution said that a constable attended meetings of the party, to which the defendant belonged. These people who held meetings at the Trades’ Hall, appeared to be called the Communist party which was something distinct from the Labour party, he was happy to say. The constable purchased a book, “The A. B. C. of Communism,” which purported to be a popular exposition of the party’s principles, and had been written by two Russians. It openly advocated violence on the part of the proletariat, with the object of overthrowing the present system of society. The constable, in evidence, said it was often mentioned at the meetings that it was illegal to sell such literature, but the matter was usually treated lightly. Sheffield, who was not represented by counsel, denied in evidence, that the constable obtained the book from him. The defendant admitted buying literature at meetings, but denied ever selling any. The Magistrate said he would read the book and deferred decision.