PACIFIST SENT TO GAOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 February 1940, Page 6

PACIFIST SENT TO GAOL

FOR OBSTRUCTING CONSTABLE. MEETINGS THAT CAUSE SERIOUS DISORDER. (By Toipfiraph—Press Asocial ion.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The time had come to deal with such offenders without kid gloves on. said •Mr .1. L. Stout. S.M.. when imposing a penalty of three months’ imprisonment with hard labour on Halford Graham Lyttle, an electrician, aged 30. who was convicted in the Magistrate's Court on a charge of obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty. The charge was the outcome of a pacifist meeting on Friday night. “People are getting restive because this anti-recruiting campaign is carried on by youb society under the guise of Christian pacifism." said Mr Stout, “and the police know from past experience that this restiveness is growing, and that if these meeting continue to be held there is likely to be disorder, as different sections of the crowd arc likely to come to blows.”

Senior-Sergeant Power said that of late a decidedly hostile altitude had been taken towards the defendant, and his society and the matter had reached a dangerous stage. If these people were allowed to address crowds, they could definitely look for a serious breach of the peace, and he was afraid, personal injury.