VERDICT OF GUILTY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23323, 8 May 1941, Page 12

VERDICT OF GUILTY

ATTEMPT TO PUBLISH A SUBVERSIVE DOCUMENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 7. A verdict of guilty on charges of publishing a subversive document, and attempting to conduct a meeting prohibited under the Public Safety Emergency Regulations by Superintendent Lopdell, was returned by the jury in the Supreme Court against Archibald Charles Barrington, aged 35, secretary of the Christian Pacifist Society. Towards the close of a long address to the jury Barrington announced that the next speaker for the society would be a woman. In summing up the Chief Justice (the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers) said the Court was not concerned with what might be said or published in other parts of the world,'whether in Britain or elsewhere. New Zealanders were bound by their own law. “At a time when the country and the Empire are engaged in what is a struggle for existence, we must have unity. We must have harmony, and no deceptions, no public disturbances which would inevitably divert the minds of the people from the main consideration.” He intimated that if the jury was satisfied as to accused’s guilt it would be sufficient to find him guilty of publishing a subversive document and attempting to conduct a prohibited meeting. The prisoner was remanded until Friday for sentence.