THE SEDITION CASES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16214, 17 May 1918, Page 6

THE SEDITION CASES.

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE'S ATTITUDE. APPEAL FOR CLEMENCY. At the conclusion of last night's meeting of the Ckristcliurch Second Division League, Mr J. Reid, a member of the new executive, moved the following motion: — "That this meeting of tho Christchurch Second Division League, having full knowledge of all the circumstances connected with the sedition eases, and convictions arising out of a recent public meeting, is strongly of tho opinion that the action taken was not meant as an incitement to resenasts to resist authority, but was intended to bo addressed to the Government with the object of hurrying an immediate betterment of conditions of service, and would earnestly urge upon the Minister of Justico that clemency should > bo shown to tho offenders, and the remainder of their sentences -emitted."

Speaking in support cf a motion, Mr Reid said the attiti of th 6 League had been made clear that evenling. so that there could bo no misapprehension. He honestly believed that the accused men did not adviso roservists to resist tho authorities. The fact that other men present at the Opera House meeting, who had more experience, had not thought tho motion seditious, showed that the accused men had acted innocently. The chairman (Mr R. A. Armstrong) said it had been his opinion all along that there had been no intention to induce reservists to resist.

The motion was ,earned unanimously with applause. It was further decided that the chairman be empowered to present the resolution to the Minister of Justice, and to endeavour to get the stigma of sedition removed from the men's records.