PROTEST MADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 14 September 1940, Page 6

PROTEST MADE.

POLITICAL SENTENCES.

LABOURERS' SECRETARY CASE,

A protest against the decisions of the Prisons Board in connection with a revision of the sentences being served by Mr. Tom Stanley, secretary of the Auckland Builders and General Labourers' Union, and two others, was made in a resolution passed at a meeting of the union. The resolution, which was passed unanimously, stated: "The decision to again review the sentences in December when the major portion of 'their time will hare been served is callous in the extreme. The Prisons Board had as guidance tho verdict given in two other cases where probation was granted, and this meeting of workers, owing allcgianco to no party in particular, but imbued with a deep sense of British justice, demands that the Prisons Board be immediately called together to allow tho political prisoners to appeal personally against their sentences in

accordance with the deep-rooted principles of democracy/'

A protest was also made in connection with tlio deportation of Mr. K. lirotison, who is on his way to England. It was stated that he and his wife had hccii placed on a boat that carried no doctor, and Mrs. Bronson's baby, born on the voyage, had died. It was decided to write to the Prime Minister pointing out that the members of the union were deeply concerned about the matter, and demanding thai no such deportations should take place in future.

The following members of tlio union were made honorary life members and presented with certificates: Messrs. T. C. Heath, P. McLaren, ' I!. lander, D. Osborne, W. A. Simmonds, J. McShane, J. Batters.