SEDITIOUS UTTERANCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1917, Page 5

SEDITIOUS UTTERANCES.

INCITING STRIKE AT FREEZING WORKS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. At the Hamilton Police Court to-day Michael Francis Cusack, of Auckland, laborer, was charged that on ■February 15 he did publish a seditious utterance in a speech to certain men employed at the Hamilton freezing works, inciting them to strike, which utterance was seditious in that it had a tendency to intenfere with the supply of frozen meat in connection with the war. Mr Macassy, Crown Prosecutor, of Wellington, prosecuted. The case was the first of its kind. Mr M'acassey said that Cusaek had been employed at Southdown, and went to Horotiu on February 14. There was no grievance on the part of the men there, and no complaint had been made to the manager. Defendant entered the wonts without the permission of the manager. At the time nearly 1,500,0001b of frozen meat was awaiting shipment for the troops. After Cusack went to the works the manager was informed that the men had held a meeting and were going on strike, in sympathy with the men on strike in Auckland, but were in the dark as to what they wanted, nineteen men out of 100 being affected. Evidence for the prosecution was on the lines of Mr Macassey's address, it being stated that the men were out 8 days.

Evidence for the defence was a denial tliat CusiK'E had in any way induced or incited the men to strike. Decision was reserved until Saturday, bail being allowed in his own recognisance.