SUBVERSION CHARGES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21244, 15 October 1940, Page 6

SUBVERSION CHARGES

SEDITIOUS UTTERANCES (gy Telegrapn. —Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday Three charges of making seditious utterances, brought under the Public Safety Regulations, 1940, were preferred against three men in the Magistrate’s Court today. Harold Alexander Ostler and Travis Burnell Christopher Christie, a junior, were jointly charged with publishing a subversive statement in the People’s Voice. Two charges of making oral subversive statements were made against William Edward John Aitken. At the request of the police an adjournment for a week was granted. PRINTER FINED £3O (By Telegraph.—Pre?s Association) AUCKLAND, Tuesday Holding that Ernest James Brooks, aged 40, printer and clerk, on March 26 printed a leaflet headed “ The Real Criminals,” with a view to facilitating publication of a subversive statement, Mr F. H. Levien, S.M., today fined Brooks £3O, in default six weeks’ imprisonment. Brooks denied the charge. The magistrate said he had come to the conclusion, not without some slight doubt, that Brooks knew the nature of the publication which his small printery had handled and printed. “ There is still a doubt in my mind,” added the magistrate, “ as to whether Brooks was a perfectly independent party. However, the case is one which I think calls for the imposition of a fine.” A request for time to pay was declined.