HUNGER STRIKE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 167, 17 July 1941, Page 7

HUNGER STRIKE

TWO MEN IN SYDNEY

Attempt To Defeat Course Of Justice United Press Association.—Cupyriglit. Kec. 1 p.m. SYDNEY, this clay. The case of two men. Max Thomas and Horace Ratcliff. who have been hunger striking for 14 days as a protest against their

"illegal detention" under the National Security Regulations, is creating considerable comment in Labour circles and has reached a stage when the Government has been compelled to take cognisance of the situation.

The men had served a sentence of six" months for possession of illegal literature and were again arrested upon their release. They claimed that, having served their sentence, their further detention without, trial was unjust and illegal. A number of unions ' and women's organisations have actively sought their release.

The War Advisory Council took the matter up to-day, and while about to enter a meeting the Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzles, was heckled by a troop of women sympathisers of the hunger strikers, who during the week-end were transferred from gaol to the Yaralla Hospital.

Prime Minister's Statement Announcing the Government's intention not to release Thomas and Ratcliff. the Prime Minister, in the course of a statement after the WatCouncil meeting, said Thomas and Ratcliff were originally arrested > for subversive activities. They were'entitled and had exercised the right of appeal against their further detention before-the Advisory Committee, provided under the National Security regulations. Instead of proceeding with their appeals, they elected to hunger strike.

That fact was both regrettable and irrelevant. Such expedients could not be allowed to alter the ordinary course of justice. No case had been made out that gave them a mode of trial different from that which applied to people similarly detained. It was wrong to assume that subversive activities and propaganda had ceased because Russia had come into the war.

"We welcome Russia's fight," said Mr. Menzies, "but Australia's fight is dependent upon an unimpeded war effort. Thus Thomas and Ratciiff should have recourse to the appropriate tribunal provided for them."