IGNORED WARNING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 224, 21 September 1934, Page 8

IGNORED WARNING.

STREET PROCESSION.

YCUNG LABOURER GAOLED

"POLICE DOING THEIR DUTY' "The unemployed have grievances, bu they can ventilate them in the prope way. The police had a duty to perforn and they tried to carry it out on Satur day," said the magistrate, Mr. W. R McKean, S.M., in the" Police Court to-day in .sentencing one of the participant* n the unemployed procession which too!place in the city on Saturday la.st Richard Harold Brown, labourer, ngec 20, was sentenced to 14 days' imprison ment for wilfully obstructing the polici in the execution of their duty, and sevei day;.' imprisonment for behaving in f disorderly manner in Welleeley Street West, both on September .1"). He pleadec not guilty. A third charge, that of tak ing 'part' in a procession along Queei Street without a permit, was ndjournei sine, die, until'the validity of the by-lav has been ascertained. Charges arising from the same occur rence were laid against three othc: persons, Thomas Stanley, Francis Man Ma'rtinovich. and Lewis Williams. Encl was charged with unlawfully obstructing the free passage of persons along Queei Street on September 15, and with taking part in an unlawful procession. Th< first charge was in each case adjournec until Friday, while the second, like tha' of the third against Brown, wai adjourned for the same reason. " To the Town Hall." Inspector Edwards, in evidence, *aii he.was on duty in Queen Street, where ,he saw defendant among those taking part in the procession. He saw him ii front of a theatre near Wellesley Street .Defendant called out, "To the Towi Hall." Witness told those in the proces sion they had no permit to march to th< Town Hall, after which they turnec across to Wellesley Street. Defendanl again called out, saying, "The unenv ployed are starving." He also niaclf references to the unemployed work a 1 the Hobsonville air baee and to the Taka puna unemployed. Witness said he spoke several times to defendant, telling him to keep quiet, otherwise he would be liable to arrest Ho still called out, and told those it the procession that if they could not get to the. Town Hall they would go tc the Trades Hall. Defendant, who conducted his owi ease, then cross-questioned witness. He asked about the specific circumstance: leading to his arrest. "You say I was calling out, 'To the Town Hall'? Yoi have witnesses to prove that?" he asked Witness: Yes.. Defendant: Ybu say I called out, "T( the Trades Hall." I submit I did nol say that. Requested To Disperse. Defendant: When did the actua obstruction occur? —In front' of tin Regent Theatre. Wβ asked you to clis perse, and not to obstruct further. Defendant: Before you took posscssior of the banners we were carrying, did yoi warn those who had them ?—There \va; •no need. Brown then asked the witnesf whether, if the police saw . a man ir Queen Street carrying a placard advertising cheap meals his placard would be taken away. . "Each, case -would be taken on its merits," replied witness. "That is what I am trying to point out," defendant replied. "If a man is carrying a placard advertising cheap meals, the police do not rush him, but it a man is carrying a placard up Queen Street, they do." The Magistrate: Do you want to ask tho witness questions, or do you want to address %ho Court? After further questioning, witness said that the fact that defendant had called out advice to go to the Town Hall was in itself sufficient to constitute obstruction. Senior Sergeant Flanagan said that defendant repeatedly called out to the crowd to come up to the Trades Hall. The• Magistrate: After he had been warned?—Yfes. . ' "Not Possible to Pay Fine." The magistrate said no evidence given by the prosecution had been contradicted. What defendant had done amounted to obstruction, and also he had been disorderly. He would be fined £2 on the charge of obstructing the police, and £1 on the other charge. "It is' not possible to pay the fine," said Brown. "I am a relief worker." The Magistrate: Of is. it that you do not wish to pay? Brown: It is not possible. The Magistrate: Fourteen days on the first charge, seven on the second.