GAOL FOR WOMAN

Auckland Star, 12 May 1941, Page 8

GAOL FOR WOMAN

CHRISTIAN PACIFIST OBSTRUCTION OF POLICE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. Stating that he did not intend to consider the sex of the accused and that she must be treated as any other person who set herself above the law, Mr. J. L. Stout, S M.. in the Magistrate's Court to-day sentenced Constance May Jones, aged 22. a clerk, to three months' imprisonment on a charge of obstructing Superintendent Lopdell in the lawful execution of his duty at a Christian Pacifist meeting in Manners Street on Friday night. Superintendent Lopdell said that Barrington. secretary of the Christian Pacifist Society, made a boast in the Supreme Court the other day that the next speaker would be a woman and consequently on Friday night quite an expectant crowd gathered, some apparently out for a bit of fun. Accused commenced to speak. He prohibited the meeting, but she refused to cease and was arrested. The reason for prohibition in the first instance was because of the intimation he received from Barrington setting forth as one of his purposes that New Zealand should withdraw from the war at once and that the assistance of all people should be enlisted to that end. Superintendent Lopdell added that that purpose was to his mind subversive. He feared subversive propaganda at the meetings and that public disorder would result, and he decided that a meeting under the auspices of the society should be prohibited. Defendant pointed out that eight men previously before the Court were all charged with conducting or attempting to conduct a prohibited meeting. Superintendent Lopdell said they had decided to be as considerate to her as they possibly could. The charge was a matter for himself and the authorities.