CONVICTING WORKLESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 229, 27 September 1930, Page 10

CONVICTING WORKLESS.

RECENT AUCKLAND CASE. PROTEST AGAINST CHARGE. RIGHT OF SPEECH DEFENDED. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. ' The principle of a man being convicted of vagrancy because he was out of work was raised by Mr. M. J. Savage (Labour, Auckland East) in the House to-day. Mr. Savage stated that when the Prime Minister was leaving , Auckland for the Imperial Conference there had been a demonstration by the unemployed, and one man had been convicted subsequently of vagrancy, in addition to disorderly behaviour. In response to representations the Minister of Justice had had inquiries made into the case and had advised the member that the evidence had shown that the man had been out of work since June last, that he had refused work offered him and had occupied his time as an "agitator," addressing meetings. .; , . , y

* Filling the Gaols. ' Mr. Savage declared that if every man who was unemployed were charged with vagrancy the Courts would be filled and there would not be many out of gaol. There were many men who had been out of work since June, and most of the members of the House must plead guilty to the charge, of . addressing meetings. Even the Minister did that. (Laughter.) The Minister might have further reasons, as yet ijndisclosed,.as to why the man was. charged with, and convicted of vagrancy, and if he had they should be made known. Mr. Savage said he wanted an assurance that men would not be arrested because they were out of work or reported to be. "agitators," as the Minister's* letter put it. The unemployed had a case, and qven if they had to fight it through a so-called, "agitator," Mr. Savage, said ,he was with them. He asked the Minister to state that there were other reasons than the Auckland man's being an; "agitator" for the charge of vagrancy being made. In reply, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe,, Minister of Justice, said that as far as he knew the man.was simply convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, Mr. Savage: But he was. convicted; that was the point.

Work Refused. The Minister' said the fact that a man delivered political addresses could hardly be' held as a reason for a vagrancycharge. The House need have 110 fear on that score. As a matter of fact he himself had to address a flower show to-morrow. A Member: But you won't talk jpoliticfi. (Laughter.) > The Minister said that the man referred' to had heen repeatedly offered work and had refused jit, and had been active in work of a troublesome nature, giving the authorities, some trouble. He ha'cf not/been fined, hut ordered to come up for sentence. "But he has 'been convicted as a vagrant," was Mr. Savage's parting shot.