SUBVERSION CHARGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 251, 31 July 1940, Page 7

SUBVERSION CHARGE.

MAN REMANDED FOR SENTENCE.

(Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, July 30. Parts of a speech made at an open air meeting during the Auckland West by-election campaign were the subject of a chajrge of making subversive statements heard by Mr Justice Fair and a jury at the Supreme Court. The accused was Alexander Drennan, a waterside worker, who pleaded not guilty. The four statements complained, of wiere alleged to have been made at an open air meeting held under the auspices of the Communist Party on May 10. They referred to the alleged bringing in of laws in order to stifle the. truth from becoming apparent to the masses, and alleged that emergency laws had become necessary to crush the growing opposition to capitalism. The accused was alleged to haw said that he. was throwing his whole effort behind efforts to stop the war. Addressing the jury, accused dealt at length with, the character of tine meeting, saying that its whole object was to get votes for the Communist candidate.

After a brief retirement, the jury returned a verdict of guilty, adding a strong recommendation to mercy on the grounds that the speech was mad-= in the heat of an election campaign. In remanding the accused for sentence, his Honour said ho would give the greatest weight to the recommendation.