FOUR IMPRISONED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 207, 14 June 1932, Page 3

FOUR IMPRISONED

SEDITIOUS LITERATURE. OFFENCES BY COMMUNISTS. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 13. For the parts they played in the dissemination of 'Communist literature which, in the opinion of the Bench, was calculated to do a great amount of harm, Richard Francis Griffin, Alexander Galbraith, and John Joseph Robinson were each sentenced to reformative detention for a period not exceeding three years by Mr E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day. William Alexander George Lockhart was sent to gaol for three months, while Leslie Raymond McDowell and Edward Hogan were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within two years. The charges arose out of the publication and distribution of the "Red Worker" and a pamphlet entitled "Strike Strategy and Tactics." Evidence involving the constitution of the Communist Party, and questions as to the authority of members of the Central Executive or controlling body, occupied much of the time of the Court, when the case against Griffin was continued. Griffin pleaded hot guilty to charges of printing and publishing documents which were alleged by the Crown to be seditious/^ Evidence for the police was given by Detective Waterson, who said he understood that Griffin was secretary and organiser of the Communist Party. Accused was the Communist delegate from New Zealand to Russia four years ago. Witness gave further evidence as to accused's connection with the Communist movement, his evidence closing the case for the Crown. The Defence. . The first witness for the defence, Alexander Galbraith, said his official position in the Communist Party was printer and publisher of the "Red Worker." He had never seen Griffin printing' or publishing the "Red Worker." Accused had connection with the Vanguard Press except in connection with accounts. Counsel for the Crown: Are you the person who is entirely responsible for the "Red Worker?"—l am, and as l am a Communist all I want to see ini it is Communist propaganda. Are you a member of the" Central Executive?—Yes. Is the accused ?—Yes. What is his official position ?—He has none. It is all departmentalised. The chairman is elected at each meeting. Is not Griffin looked upon by Communists in New Zealand as their leader?—No; we have no leader. Who do they look upon as their leader?—The Central Executive. Mr Page: How many are on the Central Executive ?—Oh, it fluctuates from time to time. I suppose throughout New Zealand there would be about twelve. Mr Page: In Wellington, I mean.—l should say probably eight. I would not be sure. Some of them are in gaol. How long has Griffin been a member of the Central Executive? —For some time. You said he used to be secretary of the Communist Party. . When did he cease-to be that?—lf I remember rightly at the end of 1930. He was then prosecuted and I was made secretary. Witness said he ceased to be secretary in March, 1931. Griffin had not since been secretary.

Accused in Box. In evidence, accused denied that he was the printer or publisher of the "Red Worker" or the strike pamphlet, "Strike Strategy and Tactics." An account had been opened at the Bank of New Zealand in the name of the Vanguard Press, but that account was later changed into the general account of the Communist Party. When' he signed cheques in connection with the "Bed Worker" he did so at the request of Galbraith, and when he took "copy" to the linotype operator it was also at the request of Galbraith. He Had notbeen responsible for the tenancy of the premises since 1930, when he served a term of imprisonment for having seditious literature. The document which he had in his possession and which the Crown alleged was a control scheme was merely "speculative scribble" on his own part, not an official document of the Communist Party. Magistrate's Comment. Mr Page in passing sentence, sard the substantial defence raised by Griffin was that, not being the registered printer and publisher of the documents in question, he should not be convicted of printing and publishing them. That in his view was not the coi*rect interpretation of the law. Although there might be one chief actor, many others might be convicted if it was shown that they were parties to the publication. On defendant's own evidence he was clearly shown to be a party to the issuing of the pamhplet and" the paper. Griffin had stated in evidence that he was actively concerned with every movement of the Communist Party, and in that he included the literary department, which was a branch of its activities, and the publications, which represented its views. He admitted also that he had written some, of the articles which appeared in the "Red Worker." "' "Taking his evidence alone, it seems clear that Griffin has. been shown to be a carty to the issuing of the paper wIKI have already held to be sediiioS " Mr Pake said. "With opinions, political or otherwise, concern. < Every man is entitled to hold what opinions he chooses, and wxthm certain well-defined limits express those opinSs both orally and in writing, but he is not at liberty in the course of such expression to incite others to lawlessness and violence. These papers, as I read them, contain from end to end an appeal ana an incitement to resist the law by militant mass action, and bring about the overthrow of the State and the Constitution by revolutionary violence The dissemination of this type of literature is calculated to do a great deal of harm. I think it is not unlikely that the wanton destruction of propertv that recently occurred in A\ellineton was traceable to tins source The Magistrate added that those who lived in this country must obey its laws. Publication of papers that were sedi-

tious or incited to lawlessness and disorder must cease. Lockhart was charged with baying the "Red Worker" in his possession, and McDowell and Griffin with printing and publishing the paper and the pamphlet and also with selling the paper and having it in their possession. Robinson was charged with printing and publishing the pamphlet 'Strike Strategy and Tactics." He was formerly registered as proprietor of the ' Keel Worker." Galbraith was charged with printing and publishing two issues of the "Red Worker." He claimed to be the printer and publisher of the paper and said McDowell was employed only in the production of the paper. Hogan was charged with having the paper in his possession.