TO RIDICULE LANG.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 150, 6 April 1932, Page 5

TO RIDICULE LANG.

THE NEW GUARD SCHEME. BRIDGE OPENING INCIDENT. (United Press Association— Copyright) SYDNEY, April 6. The hearing of the charge against Captain F. E, de Groot of offensive behaviour in connection with the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was continued to-day in the Central Police Court, before Mr Laidlaw, GVS.M. Further cross-examined by Mr Barry for the prosecution, De Groot said he had always been of opinion that an officer in uniform could not be arrested except by a military officer of his own rank—certainly not by a policeman. Mr Barry: Weie you convicted and fined 20s in 1930 for assaulting an old man? De Groot: Yes. I remember assaulting somebody for insulting my wife.

Detailing his plans for preventing Mr Lang from opening the bridge, De Groot said that Colonel Campbell’s suggestion was that Mr Lang should be arrested for fraud and corruption. Do Groot ha'd recommended that that should be done later. He added: “I suggested that it- would be better to cast ridicule upon him, to cause no injury to anyone, yet to make tho whole world laugh. This scheme would not involve the New Guard. Moreover, nobody had the right to stretch any kind of obstacle across a public road, therefore to cut the ribbon w ould constitute no offence. Colonel Campbell agreed that this plan should be adopted.” During the luncheon interview the Magistrate viewed a screening of the film depicting De Ci’oot cutting the ribbon.

Dr. George Hamilton, an eye-witness of the ribbon-cutting incident, said he was not offended by it. On the contrary, he thoroughly approved of it “as a protest against Mr Lang and his Government.” He added: “I regard Do Groot’s action as ,a very plucky one, which is endorsed by loyal citizens of New South Males.” The Magistrate interjected: This is no place for a .political outburst. I will not allow- such references to the Premier and the Government as corrupt. Other witnesses for the defence expressed approval o{ De Groot’s action and entire disapproval of the disloyalists on the official stands who failed to bare their heads and stand while the. National Anthem was being sung. The ease will conclude to-morrow-.