Charges After Wreath Laying

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31362, 6 May 1967, Page 14

Charges After Wreath Laying

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 5. On Anzac Day two men laid a wreath with the inscription, “To the dead and dying of all sides in Vietnam—why must their blood pay the price of our mistakes?” at the Citizens’ War Memorial in Wellington, Mr J. A. Wicks, S.M., was told today. The men, Christopher Wainwright, aged 25, a university lecturer, and Christopher Yates Butler, 24, a university student, were charged with having behaved in a disorderly manner and obstructing the police. The hearing was adjourned, part heard, to next Friday. The Magistrate warned 150 students present more than once that the Courtroom • not a picture theatre anti they persisted with occasional. outbursts he would clear the Court | After evidence had been,

given by four members of Wellington Returned Services’ Association and by a member of the police, the counsel for the two defendants Mr N. R. Taylor, submitted that the police did not have reasonable grounds for the charges. The Magistrate said that as the case was not simple he was not prepared to decide whether or not to discharge the case. Men Asked To Go

Harold Austin, secretary of the R.S.A., said he had noticed a group of men standing on the footpath in front of the memorial during the wreathlaying service. They were carrying a placard surrounded by leaves and two flowers.

He told them they were obstructing the service and asked them to go to the side of the memorial.

They demanded their rights as private citizens to place the wreath, but moved on as requested. Austin said he felt the situation was dangerous. He had stationed himself in front of the men in an attempt to obscure the wreath. The two defendants re-

peated their demands, but he told them he was too busy to discuss the matter and turned his back on them. Austin said he was concerned that he might be faced with a demonstration, so he asked two constables to watch the men carrying the wreath. After the ceremony, the witness was approached by William Smith, also a member of the R.S.A, followed by Wainwright and Butler. Sergeant B. G. W. Houston said he had seen about six men standing on the footpath with the wreath. Later he noticed them walking up the stairs to the memorial.

Wainwright and Butler laid the wreath among others already laid. As they stood back Mr Smith picked up the wreath and carried it from the memorial. Mr Smith said he had removed the wreath as he did not like the placard and thought it “an insult to other wreaths.” After removing it he took it to Mr Austin. Sergeant Houston said he had asked the accused if they were prepared to discuss the matter with Mr Austin. A crowd was gathering.

The group moved away to

a police car and the accused were offered their choice of three courses of action—to go to the police station to discuss the situation with Mr Austin, to go on their way, or to return to the memorial and lay the wreath. He warned that if they returned and laid the wreath, he would arrest them, as he felt such an action could lead to a breach of the peace. If they would talk with Mr Austin, he might allow them to lay the wreath.

Southbridge D.H.S.—The Southbridge District High School has the following new committee: Messrs W. E. Moorhead (chairman), D. H. (deputy-chairman), W. Heslop (treasurer), L. R. Maw (secretary), H. C. Abbott, M. W. Boon, A F. Cameron, W. Clark, R. B. Hill. Ship Delayed.—The Blue Star Line’s twin-screw motor vessel, Caledonia Star, originally j due' at Lyttelton this week-end from Matarani with Central American cargo for discharge, has been delayed by engine trouble. The ship is expected at .Lyttlton next Friday. Tbe Caledonia Star will load refrigerated and general cargo for Central America.