SUBPOENAED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 128, 22 January 1932, Page 5

SUBPOENAED

(Press. Assn,

MR. t-ANG SERVED ' . . 1 j ' i V- '

gQUNSEL ALLEGES CROWJM APPOINTEES WERE r GR-IMINALS " J—, : "BAD USE OF LIBERTY"

. — By Telegraph — Copyright).

Rec. Jan. 21, 7.10 p.m. SYDNEY, Thursday. When the Campbell "case was ' f esumed, MA Lamb announced that 'he i had subpeonaed the.'Premier,. Mr. 5 j. T. Lang: and Mr. • Goo'de, 'head ' of fhe Transport - Board, and Mr. Sleeman, Publicity Officer for the Government. "We shall see whether the position taken up by the defendant, Campbell, is the position freely ob-tajning-'in the political world," Mr. Laxpb added; A certain newspaper had called Mr Lang a liar and defulter, and said he should be behind bars. There was no difference between that and what Colonel Campbell allegedly said, except that a newspaper , could nofc be charged under this Act. j ■ Mr. Sheahan repliad contendin'g that Campbell had made bad use of the liberty provided by the defamation laws. He was charged under the

" — - •• . .. — Vagrancy Act, which aimed at the preservation of order, and whether the words used by a reputable or disfeputable person about a reputable or disreputable person were true or false, if they were insulting, the offence had been committed. "We claim that the words were not only insulting but threatening," Mr Sheahan stated. Campbell had said, that this man, meaning Lang, was not to open the Harbour Bridge. Some people, hearing that, might take the law into their own hands. ' The contention that Mr. Lang had made certain doubtful appointjnents to the Legislative Council was incorreet, as these were made by the Governor. A further submission that Goode was guilty of bribery and corruption could be proved by another action if Mr. Lamb chose to adopt that course. i The Magistrate ruled that the defendant was not entitled to adduce as evidence, the truth of any statement charged against him as insulting. ,Mr. Lamb then said: "I propose. to give evidence that a number of persons appointed by the Government to positions under the Crown were criminals." The Magistrate: "I will rule that out." Did Not Laugh Continuing his evidence, Sergeant Lendrum, the police shorthand writer, said he was insulted by the words used in Colonel Campbell's speech. • ! Mr. Lamb; "To whom did you first mention that you were insulted." Witness: "To the police Chief Commissioner, Mr. Childs." Mr. Lamb: "Did he laugh at you?" Witness: "No." Detective Sergeant Watkins, who also heard Colonel Campbell's speech gave evidence that certain referenees to the Premier wer.e most insulting — such a statement as "Nasty tyrant, Scoundrel, and buffoon." Mr, Lamb: "Did you not shake hands with Colonel Campbell after the meeting and congratulate him." Witness : "I shook hands, that'S all."