ARREST OF MR R. SEMPLE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15770, 11 December 1916, Page 6

ARREST OF MR R. SEMPLE.

CHARGED WITH USING

SEDITIOUS LANGUAGE.

BAIL REFUSED

Mr Robert Semple, the prominent Labourite, who was to have addressed two meetings in Christchurch yesterday on matters connected with the raininc troubles in Australia and New Zealand and tho conscription issue, held his afternoon meeting i n tho prosenco of between 400 and 500 people i n Victoria square, but was absent from tho proposed function in the Socialists' Hall in the evening for a very excellent and sufficient reason. At tho Victoria square meeting, Mr P. S. Ramsay, president of tho Co n . scription Repeal League, was the first speaker, and he mentioned that he had received notice that SOOO of thp minera at Greymouth, at a meeting held on Saturday, had parsed a strong resolution of protest against t!u> MHitary Service Act of New Zealand, and urged that an early session of Parliament should bo called to repeal that measure. Mr Semple, in tho course of a long, rambling speech, advanced the usual arguments against conscription, on the lines of tho Conscription Repeal League's manifesto, and tho speaker did not forget to criticise tho Major of Christehorch for giving his casting vote against the motion to allow ono of the Christchurch theatres to be used for tho evening meeting by tho Socialists. Mr Semple was guarded in his language, and the mooting, but for the efforts of ono woman, who rather successfully heckled tho orator, was quite quiet and orderly. At the conclusion a resolution similar in terms to the one said to have been passed by the Greymouth miners, was put and declared carried on a show of hands. The evening programme, as alreadj indicated, was rather upset by the arrest of Mr Semplo. About 5.30 p.m. Superintendent Dwyer received a telegram from polico headquarters in Auckland giving instructions that Semplo should be arrested on a c'hargo of using seditious language at Auckland last Sunday night. Accordingly, about 6.30, tho Superintendent, accompanied by SubInspector Mullaney, wno knew where Semplo was staying in Christchurch, walkojd down to bis abode, which is in Manchester street, but mot Semple coming up that thoroughfare near tic Clock Tower, where tho arrest was quietly effected. Semplo was taken to tho station and locked up, bail being refused. Tho polico authorities do not know what tlie seditious utterances actually aro that Semple is alleged to have made, as all the information they received was tho telegram of instructions to arrest, but it was Baid by some of tho arrested men's comrades that the troublo has possibly arisen over some remarks made referring to tho Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. G. W. Russell. Failing the appearance of the princiEal speaker, the crowd of three to four undred persons who assembled at tho Socialists' Hall, had perforce to be regaled with faro provided by Mr F. Cooko and Mr Ramsay. Mr Cooko spoke in the hall and Air Ramsay addressed his remarks to tho overflow on an empty section opposite the Alexandra Hall. At tho conclusion of their speeches a call for a show of hands of those in favour of tho Military Service Act being repealed was made, and tho majority of those present show*>d by their action that they were against conscription. In his preliminary remarks Mr Ramsay detailed the efforts tho Socialists had made to get a hearing for Semple, and he said that his party intended to per* severe, as they were performing no illegal action. THE AUCKLAND SPEECH. Mr Sample's address at the Globe Theatre on tho night of Sunday, 3rd inst., was very briefly reported in the Auckland papers. According to the "Star's" report Mr Semplo made use of a good deal of strong language. He declared his determination to fight conscription in New Zealand, regardless of consequences. Ho had been assured in Australia, bo said, that whatever he did they would be with him, morally, financially, in spirit, and in any other way. Alluding to tho striko of tho coal miners in Australia, the speaker stated that they had got all they asked for for tho time being, and they would ask for something moro before long. In the next fight in Australia New Zealand would be coupled so far as tho miners were concerned. It was his intention to visit every miners' union to get them to affiliate with the Australian Miners' Federation. The next fight would be for six hours. In view of what the miners had done, what could organised labour not do? Every coal miner, he said, had received instructions not to present himself if ho worn drawn in the ballot. Miners did not wont exemption. They would tell Mr Alien to take his bribe back again. People irho had hooted the miners were now asking for help, and the miners would see before many weeks how much there was in those people. Let them make n* mistake about that.