APOLOGY GIVEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 41, 28 November 1941, Page 6

APOLOGY GIVEN

CONTEMPT GF COURT CHARGE.

. MAGISTRATE DISMISSES CASE.

CONTENTIONS BY DEFENDANT

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Lincoln Arthur Winstone Efford, who was charged yesterday that he committed wilful contempt in the face of the Magistrate’s Court, that not being an authorised person, he did take down reports in writing, which included notes of the Magistrate’s remarks, with comments thereon, appeared again this morning, before Mr A. A, McLaehlan, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty. After leaving the evidence Efford tendered an apology and tl*e charge was dismissed.

Efford, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded not guilty. He said he had not sufficient information to get legal advice.

Replying to Efford, the Magistrate said: “You are charged with contempt of Court. You do not seem to understand the gravity of the offenee. you do not seem to realise that the social security of the country is in the balance. That is being deeded in Libya, and Moscow and other places. Yaw are accepting British shelter when your country is in danger. You are like Nero, fiddling while Rome burns. While your country is fighting for its very existence you come to Court taking one-sided notes of these cases.” Efford: I would consider reparation to you if I were advised of what was in my notes and what the comment consisted of. i

The Magistrate: The contempt consists of' taking notes without permission.

Efford: I suggest that the charge is incorrect.

The Magistrate: The- charges were made under the jurisdiction of the Court. You do not seem to understand that yours is a one-sided report which definitely misrepresents the position.

Efford said, ho understood he was in court on one charge only. Ho had been in court before and had; never taken notes before. He would have tuaen notes innocently before if ho had wanted to. Ho said the only comment was one word and therefore the charge was not correct.

The Magistrate: How many times have you been in here when alleged conscientious objeotors have been in court?

Efford; Four or five times. I have the right to come to court- as a member (f the public. My (behaviour in court has been courteous and everything it should be.

The Magistrate: Holding the views you do you should be in Japan or somewhere.

Efford. There are people there who believed the same as I do. I have to do my duty in the country in Avhich 1 live.

The Magistrate: There is one place you should be. The Magistrate said that Effard was not taking notes foxbrush up his education but was wilfully out to defeat the war effort.

In answer to the Magistrate Efford said he was a school teacher but lad' no pupils. Detective Parrish said that F.fford was known as a member of Pacifist Sooities. He was chairman of the Fellowship of Conscientious Objectors and was connected with the Peace Pledge Union, and on the outbreak of war was connected with the No More War Movement. Efford was an active member of the anti-conscription campaign and was on an invalidity pension. When, searched no subversive matter was found in his possession. Efford in evidence said he was not sure why h)e took notes, but as a. member of the public he felt it his duty to do so. He added that after the war history would have to be written. “As a man under suspicion of subversive acts you should definitely not be allowed to take notes,” said the Magistrate, who, on; receiving the apology from Efford dismissed the case. Please try and show youn" pacifist design? in a less patent way in future,” added the Magistrate. Take a trip to Japan or Berlin.