ALLEGED SEDITION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16209, 11 May 1918, Page 5

ALLEGED SEDITION.

REV. J. H. G. CHAPPLE CHARGED.

CASES ADJOORNED FOR A WEEK.

Charges oi' having made two seditious utterances at Greymoutli on March. 26th and 29th last, contrary to the provisions of the War Regulations, were preferred against. James Henry (J. Ciiappie, iojiurer, ot cmiatcuurcu, uc tue Jiagistraie s L-ourt, clin&icnurcn, vessel day. Mr 1. n. ii. uauev, o.iU., \><i» on n.e biMoh. iiiw i.i.cgeu to. i»u»o been iiiauc oa .viurcii -Ouu »V:j as ioika>s: —

•\Uusoiu wuuieu >.ai ; wanted war; tho upper lw ->e.v Zealand wanted ».«r. .w.cr nas tno»e bct-u a, woaueriul live days (.lneunlug tiio clays oi me iwvoiuliou), tnc oia Russia has gone out, and tne new Russia nas conn.' in. 1 nope beiore I die to see a similar niowmtut in Aew Zealand. 1 hope the day wiii come in i\ew /icalanil \.neu thuso war loans will be lepuaiated. 1 liope not a penny oi tlu: war loan will ever ue ropuict. iou uiu not autnorisc tneni." 'ihe utterance alleged to nave be-'U made on March. 2Uih was as follows :— "Vou are under the heel of the \< ar Lords. Wo have not enough population lor our own country, yet \\e anlusting attcr the annexation oi Samoa. The patriotic person is in our scnools. The children are taught to salute the llag and taught to sing the National Anthem. I tell my children when they come home not to sing the National Anthem. 1 ani hoping witli a fervent hope that in this war there' will be no victor; to pray about a war is blasphemy. A woman gees down the Valley of Death io bring a child into this world, she nurses it, sends it to school, sees it through the sixth standard, then comes n call to arms, and it goes away to war. _ Y\ hftt for.-' To die for its country? No, to dio for the profiteer." Upon Chappie's entry into the Court room lie -was greeted with applause by the audience, which filled all the seating accommodation available to the public. Mr G. Raymond, K.C., appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Twyne-l-a.ui for accused, who pleaded not guilty. Tho second charge was taken first. Mr Twvneham made application for au adjournment. He had only been instructed the day before. It was true, lie said, that accused had received tho summons last Monday, but circumstances over which he had no control had prevented his instructing Mr Twyneham before Thursday. Accused required an adjournment, as he might require to secure evidence from the West Coast. The defence would bo that the words alleged to have beeu used were used with qualifications, modifications, or elaborations, which would completely disprove tho allegation of seditious tendencies.

Mr Raymond said accused was served ou Mondpy last with, a summons, and I'Viday Avas selrctcd for tho hearing in order to bring' polio-? witnesses over frofn the W ost Coast. Until Thursday afternoon, when counsel for accused notified liim that ho intended to apply for an • adjournment, no sucli intention had been expressed. Tho Crown believed that th" intent of the dof<v.u-e wrsj.noro to search for eviucnco 011 the West Coast than to bring it.

2\lr Twyneiiaiu said lie- this compelled io relate tlie cireumsianco? over wliich acctised lied no control. Tlie accused luid arranrred to sccure another soliei-i-or'n ns.sixl r-nce. but- after some days' ;le!a_v had hccii un:/bIo *0 do so. Mr Twyneiiaiu suggested fhat tlio evidenca of tho rvolic-2 should. be taken, an-l thon t'ifi ca.so' adjo'irtiofl. Mr Raymond preferred to havo the rTifc' taken in Tlo irovld offer no cmositioti to an :idic:!r' , ')i l ?nt r-rovicled 1 lircna-ht cvic'.enrjp frr>-» ihe "\V—I Coast. •!'lu> Fofond charpe iva:; ♦'hen rri?i~.?ip\ rinci .tho oases adjourned till no:;! Frith;r. Nt 2 n.in.