RIOT CASES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 260, 2 November 1932, Page 8

RIOT CASES.

AUCKLAND TRIALS. SENTENCES OF COURT. LABOUR DEPUTATION. NO-ACTION BY GOVERNMENT, j Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader .of the Labour party,. referred to the Aucklartder, Edwards, and said that in the first trial, when the jury had disagreed, Edwards' counsel had stood aeide six men and the- -Crown Prosecutor had stood aside 12. The jury was largely a business man's jury. In, the second trial about CO men. were called upon before- the jury was empanelled. Mr. Holland protested against the Crown having an unlimited right of challenge, while the accused's right of challenge was limited, and he contended that the Crown should not have the opportunity of "packing" the jury.

Mr. Holland reviewed _ the individual cases arising out of the Auckland riot and said that some of the.men might have been caught in the high tide of the procession. Ife was not referring to those who had committed criminal offences. He knew some effort was being made to keep those prisoners separate from the others and that was appreciated as far as it went. Reduction Sought. "We would ask that the whole of these cases would be reviewed," he said; "and that the sentences be either substantially reduced or else that the men be set free."

"It seems to be a curious way of inflicting punishment," said Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West). "If I wanted to punish a man I would turn him away and let him look for a job."

Replying, the Minister said the cases had been put fairly. No Department of Justice would agree with the "packing" of a jury. He was loath to believe that such a thing could occur in New Zealand. The jury was sworn to do what was right, and the Crown had the right of unlimited challenges.

Mr. P. Fraser: It was abused' in Edwards' case. Discovery of Weapons. Mr. Cobbe referred to the evidence tending to rebut the contention that the Auckland disturbance was not ■ premeditated, and referred to the missies and weapons found. . . Mr. J. A. Lee (Grey Lynn): They were mainly picked up round the hall. Mr. Frascr: It was not a very serious armoury. Mr. Cobbe: There were some pieces of iron and steel. ;. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Mariukau): You could,not blame everybody in the crowd because these weapons Avere found. Mr. Fraser: What is the function of a judge or magistrate. *•/',';.;.! Mr. Cobbe: To execute the law of the land fairly, honestly and impartially. ' Mr. Frascr: After reflection I would say that there was a good deal of Jeffery at that time in'the Magistrate's Court. r '"•"■ * Mr. Cobbe said the sentences 'wore being reviewed by the Prison's Board this week, and if any good reason was shown for remission of the sentence, that would be done. - "I want to say . plainly <that •I, 'as Minister of Justice, cannot take any action in the direction of shortening those sentences at the presents time," said Mr. Cobbe. - Mr. Frascr: Every does it with political prisoners.Mr. Cobbe said ho did not think it reasonable to use'the term "political." He did not think that any political party would- care to associate itself with- the actions of a good many of those people.

Mr. Eraser said he would.gladly associate with some of the men.