SEDITIOUS UTTERANCE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16059, 15 November 1917, Page 3

SEDITIOUS UTTERANCE.

AVATEIISIDEH FIXED £5,

George Waiklin appeared before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., at Lyttelton yesterday, charged that 011 July 26th, he had made a seditious utterance follows: "We would be just as well off under the German flag as under Jho British flag.. There is no starvation, in Germany, and the children there do not run about without boots and shoes as they do in England. .German rule is better than English rule." Accused, on whose behalf Mr Hunt appeared, pleaded not guilty. Senior-Sergeant Jackson stated that the words had been uttered on No. 2 wharf at Lyttelton on the mo.rnihg of July 26th in the presenco of several men who wero awaiting the arrival of a vessel. George Edward Sollett, a Customhouse official, stated that on the morning that the utterance was made he was on duty at No. 2 wharf shortly after 6 a.m., when he heard accused talking about the war and conscription. _ Accused had asserted that the conscription of youths was "Prussiaiilsm straight out. We would be just as well olf under German rule as \English rule. _ ' Ho had received a letter li'om a friend in Germany stating that inero was 110 starvation there, and tne German children did not run about barefooted as do the children here. Accused further remarked I that some people aid not like Mr Mc--1 Combs because he did not try to put' them into good billets.. j Joseph Garrard and John Henry Wil- . liams also gave evidence. j Accused deposed that he was-' 39 | years of age, and had resided all iiis . lite in Lyttelton. He denied having raado a. seditious utterance, and ilunied usihg the words "German rule is : better than English rule." He had not asserted that we would be better ?»• er the German flag than tha British. What he had said was that, judging .from what he had seen at uho pictures :tnd what he had heard fro.ll seafaring men, there was more poverty in Britain than in Germany, where the children did not run about barefooted. Ho claimed to be a loyal British subject, as an evidence of which, when the .Lyttelton Watersiders' union passed a> resolution against conscription, he had been the moving spirit in circularising the union members to reverse the resolution, whicii, in his opinion, did not represent the of the majority of the members. He had also been a member of the Lyttelton Navals. He was aC2 man. Evidence was given by Matthew Hanson, William Thomas Lester, and •Joseph Garrard. Mr Hunt pointed out' that the alleged offence had taken place semiprivately, and in most of tho previous sedition oases, at p.ubiic meetings. The men were all more or less excited. over a political argument about McCombs, which led to tno subject of conscription. Accused was a highly respected man in the port, and had shown by his action in supporting the conscriptjon resolution of his union that he was not disloyal. Accused could not receive a letter from Ger- < many if he wished to, and counsel was 1 satisfied that Walklin had no corre- i spondeut there. 1

The Magistrate said tho case had been proved, .but it was entirely different from previous cases where seditious utterances had been made in the presence of a large number of people. The offence arose in the course of a conversation, when the men had evidently become excited over a political argument. At such times people were apt to say things they might be sorry for afterwards. In consideration of the fact that this was a first offence, and that accused bore a particularly good character, a nominal penalty woula be imposed. I

Accused was fined £5 and costs.