THE DEFENCE ACT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 74, 4 April 1913, Page 5

THE DEFENCE ACT.

ALLEGED UNWARRANTABLE PROSECUTION. [Per Press Association.] Christchurch, April 3. At a largely attended meeting of Addington workshops employees at the lunch hour to-day, the following motion was agreed to unanimously:— “That this meeting of Addington workshops employees protests' against the unwarrantable action of the Police Department in prosecuting one of our shopmates, Air C. L. Beary, as an idle and disorderly person, and for soliciting alms. The said C. L. Beary is at the present time completing his apprenticeship, which was extended over a period of live and a half years. During this period he has never absented himself for more than four weeks, which was not of his own seeking. This meeting is therefore of opinion that the said C. L. Beary has been unduly prosecuted and respectfully requests the Minister of Justice to instruct the Police Department to desist from its prosecution of this lad.” It was further decided to forward a copy of the resolution to the Minister of Justice and to send a subscription list round to defray the expense of counsel for Beary.

LABOUR COUNCIL’S DECISION

Christchurch, April 3

At a meeting of flic executive committee of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council, the following motion was carried unanimously “That in view of the further prosecution of C. L. Beary as an idle and disorderly person, this Council is positively shocked at the manner in which the laws of New Zealand are being prostituted to the infamous work of persecuting those who disagree with the efforts of the military caste to impose their domination over the people. AVe further declare that thus outrageous victimisation is having the effect of weakening the public respect for the laws of this country.”