SUBVERSIVE TALK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1940, Page 9

SUBVERSIVE TALK

MAN FOUND GUILTY IN AUCKLAND. JUDGE GRANTS PROBATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. July 29. As a result of a speech made by him as chairman at an election meeting of the Communist candidate for Auckland West on May 8 in Renall Street Hall, Ponsonby, Douglas James Morey was charged before Mr Justice Fair and a jury in the Supreme Court with having made a subversive statement infringing the Public Safety Regulations. Accused defended himself and insisted that the charge against him should include the whole text of his speech and not merely excerpts. Accused requested a test of the shorthand reporter, who took a note of his speech, Brian A. Snowdon. The jury tonight brought in a verdict of guilty, after a long retirement. The jury added a strong recommendation to mercy on the ground that the expressions were uttered to a very small audience and during a political campaign. The judge said there were factors which distinguished the case from a deliberate attempt to influence a large public audience. Further, the situation was not' so serious then as it had since become. He released prisoner on probation for a term of three years. He further required accused to pay £25 toward the cost of the prosecution within three 'months.