SEDITION CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1917, Page 7

SEDITION CHARGES.

THE FINAL PROCEEDINGS. THE GOVERNMENT PROMISE. NOT HEEDED. Auckland, Yesterday. Prior to sentences being passed, Mr Singer announced that all the defendants pleaded guility. Addressing the Court on behalf of the Crown, Mr. Meredith announced the terms of the arrangement made between Sir James Allen and the Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald and the representatives of th,e men on strike. Mr. Meredith added that further requests were made ai the conference of April 20 for the release of Semple and other sedition leaders, and that the present proceedings in connection with the strike, should be abandoned, were refused. The Ministers were induced to enter into the arrangement by representations bearing every appearance of sincerity, that the lead'ers who had been arrested were really not to blame bill, hnd been forced into their present. P r "' ':V others who had not been ar: :P " 1 " Tt waß ln -jr e ,i wag lln . jii i 1" x 1 should suffer for the / ai < It W arid in accepting this stateioei. ..rn e the Ministors were induced not to press for a penalty. "These representatives may have been correct as fir as the strike on grounds of anti-conscription were'concerned," con' tinucd Mr. Meredith, "but it is perfectly clear from tho correspondence that in so far as the 'go-slow' strike was concerned those representations wens, untrue. In pursuance of that agreement I am instructed by tlje Government not to press for a penalty in respect of those offences to which these men have pleaded guilty.'' Mr. Meredith suggested that the cases should be adjourned, the men to be released in the meantime. "I am instructed," he added, "to make it clear that the Government recognise that, in making any Buch arrangement- as I have indicated has been toadte with the miners, it had not the power in any way to bind or even to influence the Court in the exercise of its judicial discretion. The question of whether the suggestion made by me is one that the Court can grant is a matter entirely for your Worship." ■ In addressing the Court for the defend-' ants, Mr. Singer said defendants were not actuated by any motives of-dis-loyalty. The purpose of the "go-slow" strike was solely to bring pressure on the mine owners, Mr. 'Singer submitting that the men had not at any time hampered or embarassed the Government in the prosecution .of the war. He said the fight of the past few months, culminating in the "go-slow" strike, was caused by the. deliberate intention of the mine owners to stultify the Miners' Federation He concluded by stating that the men were prepared to return to worlc and use f heir influence to make the output greater now that they had gained the com»"lsory conference which they had asked for. j

In reply Mr. Meredith said the reason the mine owners refused the men's demands at the conference' in February was because they would involve a considerable increase in the price of coal to tlse public. They offered to have the case heard by the Arbitration Court, but this was refused by the men point blank, Mr. Frazer, S.M., said that so far as the present defendants were concerned it seemed clear that the "go-slow" policy was brought about for industrial reasons •and that the present defendants recognised the futility of trying to have the Military Service Act repealed. In his view the question was not whether tlip miners intended disloyalty; it was the one great question of National safety. It was true that the "go-slow" policy was actually in operation before the regulations of February IB were made, but the "go-slow" continued in spite of warhingß, so that the position ivas that the defendants advocated its continuance regardless of the fact that the Government'had decided that coal mining was an industry essential for the proper carrying on of the- war. This was negative disloyalty, which had serious consequences for the nation. Any man who hindered the. war was playing the Germans' game. Referring to the application by thu Crown. Mr. Frazer said as a judicial officer he was unable to recognise agreements. -■ A promise ' to the miners could not be redeemed by making the Court a party to any bargaining with justice. He must pass such sentence as bethought proper, and leave it to me Government to apply to the Governor to exercise his prerogative of pardon. Mr. Frazer further said that Wesley and Wintle were different- from the others in that their share had been smaller, and as they had spent three weeks in gaol he would impose a sentence upon each of two months' imprisonment without hard labor. In regard to the other he felt justified in making some allowance for the fact that the legislation was ex post facto. Instead of the ordinary U months he -would pass a sentence on each of nine ( months' imprisonment on the first charge of conspiracy.

THE HUNTLY CASES, The cases of 40 Huntly miners, charged with taking part in a seditions strike will be tried on Monday. Mr. Singer intimated to-day that all would probably plead guilty. SENTENCES TO BE REMITTED. Wellington, May 1. The Cabinet lias decided to advise the Governor to remit the sentences on the men convicted in Auckland yesterday on the "go slow" charges. ANOTHER SOP TO THE STRIKERS. REMISSION OF SENTENCES. A PITIFUL APOLOGY FOR WEAKNESS.

Wellington, Last Night. The Govprnmont lias decided to ask the Minister of Justice, to advise the Governor to remit the sentence of the men convicted yesterday by the magistrate in Auckland, and sentenced to imprisonment. In a statement made after Cabinet arrived at this decision this afternoon, Sir J. Allen said it was made clear to delegates at meetings on the coast that if they did not settle (vith their employers at the conference of coal miners, they must not look to members of the Government as a means of further consideration. It was' also mado clear 'that the Government could not interfere the coursf of justice, mid that the trial of 'the men must proceed. In entering into an arrangement at the conference with tho delegates, Ministers were influenced by the gravity of the general situation. Baring the time of war it was necessary tliafc transports should be coaled, and reinforcements despatched to ine rroiit reguw.rly and with expedition. It was likewise i of vital importance that vessels carrying produce and food supplies for Big-

land should sail as speedily as possible. A continuance of the strike meant a serious dislocatfon, perhaps a complete .cessation of business in the country, and the stoppage of the railway services, tramways, shipping, lighting? and probably freezing works, in which 'thousands of pounds of produce were stored, not to mention tho distress and inconvenience which the public generally would suffer through the continuance of the stoppage of coal supplies. As the result of action that the Government has taken a serious calamity has probably been averted, and it is a matter of satis-* faction to know that to-day our ports are being worked, and that the coal mining industry is again in full operation. MR P. WEBB ARRESTED. no® seditious utterances. Wellington, Last Night. Mr P. Webb, M.P., iv,las arrested here to-day on charges of seditious utterances | contained in two speech es s one of which ] was delivered during the municipal election campaign at Greymouth. Mr Webb was taken south, in custody, by tonight's ferry.