WOMAN FINED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 48, 6 December 1940, Page 8

WOMAN FINED

A JEHOVAH’S WITNESS.

DISTRIBUTING PAMPHLETS

(Per Press Association).

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “This Court has difficulty in understanding the mentality of these people. They are not being asked to go against their consciences when they are asked to be quiet in the meantime,” said Mr Levvey, S.M., when a Jehovah’s Witpress appeared in Court yesterday. “Their pamphlets are the cause of strong religious strife which is not good. Why cannot they do what other people are doing and deny themselves a little, and be quiet until things settle down?”

Margaret Messervy, a domestic, aged 60, was charged with participating in the'activities of a subversive organisation, and Mr H. S. Clark acted for her; entering a plea of not guilty.

'Constable R. J. Hart described what he had seeq in Bath Street on November 15. Mrs Messervy had put booklets, entitled “Uncovered”, into letter boxes, and when appi'oached she admitted everything, producing 14 copies of the booklet, all that were left of 30 she bad started with. Mr Clark, opening his address for the defence, explained that Messervy was definitely against Nazism, Fascism and Communism. Freedom of worship was the basis of constitutional liberty, Mr Clark said, and/ a recent Ministerial statement' indicated that the Statute was hot aimed against accused. Her bejiefs were her-religion. “All I know is that there is a Statute which I must enforce and Lcannot take notice of Ministerial pronouncements,” said the Magistrate. “Ministerial pronouncements are of no value in this Court.” . „ I. , Mr Clai;k submitted that accused had merely* committed a technical breach. “This Court does -rtot-want to be dragged into a religious controversy of any kind,” the Magistrate said to Mr Clark.’ '/“I put it to her that’she should be quiet'in the meantime/’ /' Mr Clark then spoke to accused in the dock. “I’m a British subject and I’ll expose the enemies of our Empire,” she announced. “Tell her to talk sense, Mr Clark,’’ said the Magistrate. “I am not prepared to cease; I’ll do what God tells me,” accused continued. ! While Mr Clark was speaking to his client, Detective-Sergeant Sinclair told the Magistrate that McElty, head of the organisation in Christchurch, had told him that none of the members intended to stop. “I’m sorry, sir, she' won’t give in,” said Mr Clark. “It’s all right, I can hear,” the Magistrate said. “She is being used as a tool, but she is very a minor tool.” Defendant was fined £5, in default seven days’ imprisonment.