VAGRANCY DENIED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 205, 11 June 1932, Page 2

VAGRANCY DENIED.

,/ EX-COMMUNIST IN COURT. (Per Press Association). • WELLINGTON, June 10. Philip Gordon Brazier, an ex-mem-ber of the Communist Party pleaded not guilty to a charge of vagrancy before Mr Page at the Magistrate's Court on the ground' that he had a private income of £1 a week from overseas. Detective-Sergeant Revell said accused was an agitator of the extreme type. "I have heard him saying when he was speaking at a Communist meeting that he would not work under present conditions. He describes camps as 'slave camps' and does his utmost to prevent others from going to these camps,?' said the detective-sergeant. Accused had received a sentence of two months' imprisonment on November 24 for inciting lawlessness and; since his release from gaol had been convicted for drunkenness. * Counsel for accused said he had evidence to show that accused was in receipt of money from abroad and had paid his board. Accused was not now a member of the Communist Party and had not taken part in any Communist movement since his release from prison. Brazier stated that he was a studgroom by trade, but had taken on labouring in New Zealand. Since his release from gaol he had been trying to get labouring work, but had not been successful. While in gaol he had written to his parents and explained the position in New Zealand. They had sent him money and undertaken to send him money each week. Detective-sergeant Revell: Is it not a fact that you will not go to camp and work?—lt is a fact that lam barred from camp because I am in receipt of a private income. Mr Page said he would take time to consider the case and would remand accused until Tuesday.