DISLOYALTY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 14, 11 December 1916, Page 3

DISLOYALTY.

ALLEGED SEDITIOUS LANGUAGE. ROBERT SEMPLE ARRESTED. Per Press Association. Christchurch, December Kb About d. 30 to-night,' Superintendent Dwyer received a telegram from the Auckland police, instructing him to arrest Robert Semple on a charge ol using seditious language at Auckland last Sunday night. The arrest was made quietly, Semple bring lodged in the lock-up, bail being relnsed. The police here do not know what the seditions utterances were, hut Semple’s comrades say that the trouble has possibly arisen over some iemarks Semple made concerning the Hon. C. W. Russell. Semple was to have addressed an aufi-conserip-tiouist meeting in the Socialist Hall to-night.

A FINE OF £2O. Christchurch, December (i. At tli o Lyttelton Magistrate's Court to-day, Charles Ansi'll was charged that, on November 7, at Lyttelton. lie made a statement indicating disloyalty in respect of the present war, to wit, “I won’t fight for my wife and children. Every sixpence spent in making a bullet tor the destruction of humanity is a loss of money. The Cermans have given ns all wc want, and will give ns more.” Defendant pleaded not guilty. '! he statement complained of was made at a public recruiting meeting addressed by All- L. M. Isitt, M.l 1 . Defendant, in evidence, said lie bad two brothers in the navy, one a prisoner ot war in'Cermauy, and one in hospital, who was going to the firing-line. When witness arrived at 'the meeting Air Isitt was talking on war-time economy, not recruiting, and the only time witness spoke was when he asked the speaker if he did not think that every sixpence spent on munitions was a waste, just as much as that spent on beer. Ho asked the question from an economical point of view. The Magistrate said he disbelieved defendant totally, and lined him JC2O and costs.