PLEA OF NOT GUILTY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23378, 11 July 1941, Page 9

PLEA OF NOT GUILTY

ALLEGED SUBVERSIVE STATEMENT

CARPENTER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL (F.0.0.R) TIMARU, July 10. A charge of publishing a subversive statement was brought against Leslie Stanislaus Dixon, aged 35, a carpenter, of Christchurch, before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Timaru to-day. Dixon, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded not guilty and elected to be tried by a jury. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. The statement which the accused was alleged to have made was: “The war is wrong. I would sooner be under Hitler than Fascist Fraser or Fascist Churchill. People are fools to go to the war. I would advise them not to go.” The case for the police was conducted by Detective-Sergeant E. M. Thomas. ..

Evidence was given by Albert Frederick Neilson, a hairdresser, of Timaru, who said that about 9 p.m. on March 21 the accused entered his saloon. Before getting into the chair the accused asked him what he thought of the war and witness replied that it was rather a bad business.

"When I asked him what he thought of the l war the accused said that we would be better living under Hitler than under Fascist Churchill and Fascist Fraser,” the witness said. “He offered me some literature, but I said I did not have time to read it, and told him to put it away. I asked him if he would go to the war, and he answered no and said, he would not advise anyone to go. I told him I had a brother and two nephews at the war and had two brothers killed at the ■ last war, but he said they were I — fools for going.” Continuing, the witness said he lost his temper and ordered the accused to leave. The accused wanted “to shake hands and forget the incident." but this he refused to do. There were other customers in the shop. He would not say Dixon was intoxicated by any means.

Similar evidence was given by William John Rooney, a public works employee at Surrey Hills, who was ’.also in the saloon. Dixon, he said, had produced a pamphlet from which he quoted a passage about freedom in New Zealand, adding that people would be much better under German rule and that "within 12 months we would be under German rule.” “I told him that he was a traitor to the country that offered him protection,” the witness declared. “The accused replied that German rule would

be better than living under Fascist Churchill and Fascist Fraser.” To Detective-Sergeant Thomas, the witness said he heard the accused say he would do his best to stop others from going to the war. Witness wished to say that the accused showed signs of having had liquor but he was not drunk. ~ , Leslie James Brown, a rabbiter, of Naseby, gave corroborative evidence and added that the accused bad. referred to the Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) as “that rat Semple.” . Constable F. W. Lefort, of Christchurch, described interviewing the accused in Christchurch. Dixon had denied making the statements alleged. The accused, he said, would not give a written explanation of his version of the affair, but said he would make a verbal explanation. “Dixon told me he went to the saloon with a workmate,” said the witness. “He was introduced to Neilson by this man, who held similar political views to his own. He thought he was among friends and was amazed to the extent of being anneyed at the reception he received. He was intoxicated, he said, and inay have been indiscreet in his remarks.” The<accused told the Court he wished to reserve his defence. At the conclusion of the hearing Dixon pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Timaru. Bail was allowed on his own recognisance of £IOO and two sureties of £SO each or one surety of £IOO. He was ordered to report to the police at Christchurch each day. ■