MINERS' SENTENCES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 233, 2 October 1942, Page 4

MINERS' SENTENCES

SUSPENSION QUESTION COMMENT BY MR. FRASER WELLINGTON", Thursday Commenting further on the •suspension of the sentences on the Waikato miners, the Prime Minister Mr. Fraser, said to-day that before the decision was arrived at he personally consulted Mr. W. H. Freeman. S.M., who passed sentence -on the miners, and Mr. Freeman stated that, although in the ordinary course, such sentences must be enforced owing to the urgency of the national needs he was firmlv of opinion that everything should be done to keep 'he miners out of gaol and at work on the lines proposed bv the Government. In further reference to the remission of sentences on seamen and firemen in 1934 Mr. Fraser said: "There are certainly one or two differences in the circumstances, but otherwise they are exactly parallel administrative sc 1 ts• Firstly, the sentences on the Waikato miners were suspended on stringent conditions, infringement of which during the period of the war will bring the sentences automatically into operation. The sentences on the seamen in 19:54 were completely remitted. Secondlv. the country is at war in 1942 and extraordinary means to restore and maintain the war effort and production are fully justified. In 1934 there was no war. Ordinary economic conditions prevailed."

A pedestrian, Mr. Samuel Chapman, aged 62. of 8. Vincent Street, City, suffered concussion and an injury to the right shoulder when he was knocked down by a cyclist last evening. He was admitted to the Auckland Hospital, where his condition to-day was reported to be fair.