AGAINST JAPAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 8

AGAINST JAPAN.

FOOTPATH PAINTING. YOUNG MAN BEFORE COURT. SMALL FINE IMPOSED. Caught .painting on the footpath in Ponsonby Koad early oh the morning of December 20, Richard Mann Southon, a young man, appeared on summons before Mr. C. E. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court this morning. He pleaded guilty to a charge of painting a notice, "Stop Japanese Aggression— Don't Buy Japanese Goods," .on the footpath—a breach of the city by-laws. Sub-Inspector Fox said that at 2 a.nil on the date mentioned Southon and a companion were seen by Sergeant MeGettigan near Western Park. Ptmsonhy. They had a pot of paint and a stencil with them and were painting on the footpath the notice mentioned in tile charge. Southon told the magistrate he (lid not realise he was doing any harm. He frankly admitted painting the notice. "The words have no hearing whatever on this ease." added Mr. Fox. "It is a breach of the by-law to pjint anything on the footpaths." Southon told the magistrate that be had. received a letter from a woman in the war zone, in China -and had been carried away by his feelings because of what was ' happening there. "I was actuated purely by humanitarian motives." he said, "t recently came from London, where it is not an offence to paint notices on the footpaths." "You have got to hold back your ; feelings. We all have to do that,_ otherwise we would have people painting all sorts of things on the'pavements," said the magistrate. Southon was fined 10/, with costs 0/.