LABOR LEADER'S APPEAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 27, 2 February 1914, Page 6

LABOR LEADER'S APPEAL.

CONVICTION AFFIRMED. YOUNG WILL DO THREE MONTHS [Pee Peebs Association.] Wellington, February 2. The appeal by W. T. Young against his conviction by Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., on a charge of inciting to resist 1 the police was dismissed by the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) with costs. • Young was addressing a meeting in the Basin Reserve on October 26 r when he

said: "If a police constable uses his

baton to you, give him one back, and if one won't do make it a double-

header."

» Apellant's counsel contended that

there was no incitement, as no particular person was urged to resist. The words meant only that those unlawfully assaulted could retaliate. His Honor held that to construe the Statute as asked would he to add words limiting the meaning of incite, and to say tliere could he no incitement to resist an arrest or some other act by a constable unless the arrest or some other act by a constable were just about to take place. He could not so construe the Statute. Regarding tiie contention that retaliation to unlawful assault alone was urged, the Chief Justice said that in putting down a riot force might he used. Tliere had been riots, and the police were, it was said, to he called in to suppress such breaches of the peace. The words were that if the police used batons they were to he assaulted. An appeal was -made to men 1o interfere with the police in the execution of their duty, and they were incited to do so. Force was to he used, for the appellant was to bring 10,000 to 15,000 armed men 'to resist the. authorities in maintaining peace. The Magistrate was justified in his finding, and the conviction would he affirmed. The effect of the decision is that Young will have to undergo the sentence of three months' imprisonment.