AGITATOR GAOLED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 405, 14 December 1932, Page 5

AGITATOR GAOLED

(Press. Assn.'

JUDGE'S COMMENT MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF TWQ YEARS IS TOO SHORT INFLUENCE OF MOSCOW

— By Telegraph — Copyrlght).

Rec. Dec. 13. London, Dec. 12] Sidney Job Elias was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Mr. Jiistice Charles declared that he was sure the jury wonld agree that the case had been free from political bias. Britain's policy was to allow people to express any views and advocate any revolution they wished, providing they refrained from inciting others to disorder and violence. Elias had. admitted that the hunger march was aimed not at drawing attention to troubles bravely horne but at inciting the mass to strug'gle against a capitalist state. Demonstrations requiring police intervention were unlawful. In passing sentence, Mr. Justiee Charles added: "The jury has rightly convicted Elias. The Unemployed Workers' Movement interests workers only because the British worker is honest and law-abiding. Not one in a thousand is led astray by the activities which Elias prosecuted at the hehest of Moscow. The maximum sentence is far too short." A well-dressed woman shouted: "IIow dare you take the right to speak for the workers. To Hell with capitalist justiee." "You nrust fight the police terror and agitate for the police chiefs dismissal," declared a long letter from Moscow, instructing Hannington and Emfys Llewellyn, members of the Unemployed Workers' Union, and signe'd by Sidney Job Elias, aged 35. who was arrested owing to the discovery of the letter when the police raided Hannington's office. Elias, who is chairman of the movement, and who wrote the letter during a visit to Russia, was charged at Bow Street London, on November 4 with inciting Hannington and Llewellyn "to cause discontent, dissatisfaction and ill will between different classes of His Ma, jesty's subjects and to create public disturbances against the police."