GREAT MINDS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 45, 15 October 1931, Page 3

GREAT MINDS

Ipit'ss Assn.-

COMMUNIST TELLS COURT HE FOLLOWED BERNARD SHAW DlSfTPLESHIP LEADS TO GAOL

— By Telegraph — Copyright . )

I AUCKLAND, Wednesday. ■ "Yes, it is true that I am a Com■liunist. I joined when Bernard Shaw ffid. I thought that if it was good ■pnough for him it was good enough ■°r me. AU great minds think alike." Baid James Henry Edwards in givevidenc© in the Police- Court when was charged with encouraging law■essness. The Court was crowded. ■ It was alleged that Edwards, at a ■toeeting last Sunday, urged his hear■®s to go to Norfolk Street on Mon■day and prevent an eviction (which ■took place yesterday), and "Prevent ■force by force." ■ During the evidence a deteetive ■said two letters were found on Ed■Wards, written by a man from Raetihi, ■appealing to Edwards or another j ■ Red" worker to go there and speak, frid stating, "There are enthusiastic I woung rebels here, but 'duds' are in ■he majority." K Edwards, in evidence, denied that ■e used the words quoted in the ■harge, and at no time did he. ad■ocate the use of violence. ■ The Magistrate, Mr F. K. Hunt, ■a'd he had no doubt accused, had Wsed the words in the charge. It is Br°bable however, that he was car■Ied away by his own exuberance, Pod wrote what he would not write in Palmer moments. In these demonIstoations there was danger of a riot land even deatli occurring. Accused Pad come under the notice of the po|llce in the past and he would be |sentenced to one month's imprisonPient. I It is my duty to keep the peace in I®1® town," said Mr Hunt, "and I am ISoirig to do it. In future penalties f °1' this sort of offence will be more ■severn,"