MAKE WORLD LAUGH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 191, 6 April 1932, Page 5

MAKE WORLD LAUGH

(Press Assn.- #. r f. 1

CART. m GRqpT GIVES 'DEfAIL^ ^Hlfs !I^I|RY TO* A^YONfF?

-By'TelegVa.ph— Copyrlght).

Rec; T-P'P.-F1*' ' SYDNEY, Tuesday. The hearing of the case against Capf^in F. E; ^e Gfoot, who cuf'fh'e rihl^oi) at fhe ppening of the ^y'driey Ifarhour pfidgp; lyas'confihped in ihe Gentfal Pplice Court. ' Gajjtain de Groot, furthei: cross-

examined by Mr. Barry, for the prosecution, said t|iat he was always pf the opinion that an ofiicer in'uniform could' not be arrested except by a miiitary officer of * his own rank, *and certaihly not 'hy'a jiohce'mah.1 ' Mr. Barry: Were you convicted and fined 2'Q / - ' in 1930 for assaulting an 6ld'man2 Captain de Groot: Yes, I remember assaulting somehody for insulting my wife. Detailing the plans for preventing the Premier, M?- J- T. Lang, frpin opening th'e bridge, Captain''de Cjyoot, said that Colonel Campbell's suggestlon was that Mr. Lang should |j| arrested for alleged fraud and cofruption. He (Captain de Grpot) suggested that thai would come fate'r,' and added that'it would he hetter to east ridicule upon him. That 'would 'catise no injury to anyone, yet ma'ke ' fhe whole world laugh. His schpme would not involve the New pjiard. Moreover, nobody h'ad the right to stretch "apy ; kind of ohstacle across a public road, i and therefore, to cut the ribboii would j constitute no offence. ' Colonel Campbell agreed thaf this ; plan should be adopted; During the luncjieon adjournment, ■ the police and the Magistrate (iVIr. Laidlaw) viewed the screeninV or th'e film depicting Capfaih de Groot cufting the "ribbon. " 1 Dr. George Hamilton, who was an eye-witness 'of the ribbon cutting,"said he was not offen#e'd hy it.' On ihp contrary, he thoroughly approved \of it. "As a protest agains't Mr.* Lang and his corrupt Govefnment," he added, "I regard Captain de Groot's action as" a vefy plucky pne, which *' is endorsed by loyal citizen^ of Neiy South ^Yales." * ; ' ' ' The Magistarate interjected. "This is no place for" political outbursts, and I will 'not allow such" r eferences ,to the Premier 'and the Government as corrupt." Other witnesseS for the defence expressed approval of Captain' de Groot! s action, and their entire disapproyal of the disloyalists pn the official ?stand, who failed to bare' their heads'and stand while the National Anthem was being sung. The case will be cpncluded to-pipr-row. 4