DECISION RESERVED

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23302, 12 April 1941, Page 12

DECISION RESERVED

POINT OF LAW RAISED BY CLERGYMAN (pjU WELLINGTON. April 10. bharged yesterday with aiding in the offence of John Robert Hamerton, who, on April 4, wilfully obstructed Superintendent Lopdell in the execution of his duty at a meeting held under the auspices of the Christian Pacifist Society, Ormond Edward Burton, a minister of religion, made submissions which, in the opinion of the Magistrate (Mir J. H. Luxford. S.M.), raised a question of law on which he was not prepared. to give an immediate ruling. Decision will be given in a fortnights Burton pleaded not guilty, and conducted his own case. Burton submitted that no possible question of obstruction could arise until the meeting itself was prohibited. When the meeting was prohibited. if he, by any sign or word, counselled Hamerton to proceed, then, of course, he thought the police case would be unbreakable. He contended that there had been practically nothing ’ ' said which would indicate that he was iji any way guilty of the offence with which he was charged, _ . Hamerton, at a sitting of the Court ■yesterday, was sentenced to three months* gaol. On a further charge of conducting a meeting prohibited under the Public Safety Emergency Regulations he was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. ’