WOULD NOT SHOOT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 95, 20 April 1916, Page 6

WOULD NOT SHOOT.

TO DEFEND HIS DEAREST. PEACE ADVOCATE IN COURT. ROUSES COUNSEL'S 'IRE. An advocate of non-resistance Egerton Gill, secretary of the "New Zealand Freedom League" was put through a very stiff cross-examination at the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon ,while giving evidence in support of an appeal against his conviction on a charge of circulating documents likely to hamper recruiting. "If Germany won, what would become of you?" asked the Hon. J. A. Tole. Witness: That is beside the point. Mr. Tole: I don't think so. That is the very point. Don't you people un-

derstand the death struggle the Empire is in? If all the men in the trenches went on strike, who would fight for you? Witness: I want no-one to fight for me.

Mr. Tole: Would you fight? Witness: No. Mr. Tole: I can't understand it. Here we are, interning German bands and such people, and yet you are allowed to go about free. His Honour: Would you fire at a Zeppelin? Witness: Personally, no. His Honour: Not if it were flyingover Auckland and blowing up your wife and children? Witness: It is hard to say. His Honour: I know it is hard to answer hypothetical questions. I merely want to get at your mental constitution. Mr. Tole: You are living in this British country, and you wouldn't shoot. Would you live under German tyranny? Witness: 1 should object to German conscription. His Honour: Do you know what is done to' Germans who oppose conscription? They arc put up against a wall. Witness: We believe that conscription in Germany brought about this war.

Mr. Tele: W s hat moral right have you to citizenship if you won't defend your country? Witness: I am defending it. Mr. Tole: If a German were trying to shoot your wife, and you had a gun in your hand, would you shoot him?" Witness: As far as I know, no. Mr. Tole (with much indignation): Such a man as you doesn't deserve the rights of citizenship. I'll ask you no more questions: You can go.