SEDITIOUS UTTERANCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1917, Page 4

SEDITIOUS UTTERANCES.

CHARGES AGAINST P. C. WJSBO. ACCUSED'S STATEMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christohureh, May 24, At the trial of P. C. Webb for aileg.ct edition, accused went into the hot »v.i was examined at considerable length. by Sir John Vindlay. He detailed bis interview with Sir James Allen regarding the Blackball stt'ke, which commenced in November. K'j told Sir James Allen then that the miners desired to be allowed to appeal by constitutional methods agiinst consorption. Sir James Allen told him it was quite constitutional and legal to advocate the repeal of any Act, of Parliament, so, long as it was done along constitutional lines . He communicated this to the Miners' Union, which advised the men to go back to work. Since then he had addressed a hundred meetings in opposition to conicripti hi. He had Sir James Allen's approval or consent to the liberty of speech along constitutional lines regarding the A.'t. The Government bad never intimated that he was not at liberty to do

SO. ... : When he spoke at Greymouth on' ' April 19 he was still under the impression that the Government had no objection to his advocating the repeal of the Act along constitutional lines, He went to the. West Coast with the Minister of Justice, wtyh the object of removing the restriction on the coal output, ai,d settling the trouble. This restriction had been adopted because the State refused certain things the men were asking. They worked for three days, ni<?ht and day, and the Minister finally concluded that the requests were reasonable, and concessions were made and the trouble- was averted In nearly every industrial trouble.in .New Zealand his help had been invoked by the Government for a settlement. In each speech against the Act he advocated its repeal, but said if the Govern-ni'-nt had to enforce conscription it should take over the responsibilities of the men and provide for them in a proper manner.

"I think," added Webb to Sir John Findlay, "that you voiced the same sentiments in your speech at Hastings." To this Sir John Findlay replied* "I must admit it; but I hope it will nof; bs us-d against me on my trial." Webb, continuing, explained various references in the Groymouth speech. He Kfiid his allusions to the miners fighting for thousands who were not able to fight for themselves was a reference to the dependents of the conscripted men. It woiild have be«n ridiculous to have made th« statement bearing the. inference given it in the charge. Cross-examined by the Crown counsel, Webb said he certainly thought any" government should prevent rebellion ifad speeches tending to trouble in war time. Fe did not think the Government wa,* entitled at any time to infringe upon the freedom of speech, or prevent the people honestly criticising maladministration of the Government tor. military forces. He hoped to have the; Conscription Act repealed by constitutional means.

Counsel asked: Were you ever on the platform appealing for recruits." Webb replied: "Never. If I were responsible for inducing ono man to go to the front, leaving dependents neve, I should feel morally obliged to Cake over the man's responsibilities, " '■ The court reserved its decision in respect to the Greymouth case until afte - * the charge dealing with the Taylorville speech is heard this afternoon. THE SENTENCE. THREE MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT

Christchurch, Last Night. .\tr. Bailey, S.M., in giving judgment, said he felt that it Was a case Id which he must convict defendant. His WorsVp said he must consider the whole circumstances. Defendant' attended a meeting of the Labor Party at a time when there was a strike on; The speech, . up to a certain point, left nothing to bo said against him, but towards the end of the spaeeh he made use of the* words' ■ , in the information, and other words, '

The words, ho considered, had offended against the regulations, and defendant must be convicted. ,

His Worship inquired whether, Sir .T. .Vimllay wished to say anything in re-sp-ct to the penalty. Sir J. Findlav saidt "I prefer to reserve that for the anneal." The magistrate' said he would hear iho other case before imposing the penalty. ,',;

Sir J. Findlav said he. would prefer that sentence should be imposed ..before V:\6 second case was heard. While ha rcpectfnlly dissented from his Worship's in Igment,' and would advise defendant to appeal, he would ask that his Worship consider the peculiar circumstance* that surrounded this ease. Looking lb the good service the man had performed, and his obvious honesty of intention, tbo case was ho submitted, not one in which seventy should be applied. The magistrate said he was inclined lo agree with counsel for the accused. »eev«cil had worked to get the strike flhifiltrd, and he believed he Was instrU'i mental in settling other labor difficulties. His utteranee Was not nearly so bad as those of the other men. Defendant was, sentenced to three Aontßß* imprisonment, to date from the rflay Of (•Is arrest (Slay 1). THE TAYLOR VILLE SPEECH. CASE DISMISSED. Christelmreh, T.Hst ftlght. The hearing of the charge in respect to the speech at Taylorrille was taken, 'n the afternoon. Evidence as to th» vords used was given by Constable Rodgers, who was the only witness for tho prosecution.

Mr. Bniley, S.M., In dismissing tu« charge, said the ease stood oh H vary different . footing from the Greyihouth one, on ttnieh Webb h--u! been convicted. The note was taken in long band and the constable himself Iml to admit that even if he got portions of the sentence down accurately bo lost n lot. It was quite possible thai there might be a good deal between thh two sentences charged in the indictment, which would very much rimdifv it. The matter was also different in 'this way, that Webb was a member of Parliament, and was giving an account of hl» stewardship, and accordingly more latlii'de might be allowed, although It could said that he would be allowed to speak sedition. Taking all tie ckeuaSs'ances into consideration ho did not think this was a case In which lie should ba convicted.