Supreme Court INCIDENT AT HALL

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33775, 22 February 1975, Page 19

Supreme Court INCIDENT AT HALL

Dismissal of appeals “Dist urbances at public I meetings of this kind are a| serious matter,” said Mr' Justice Macarthur in the Su-[ preme Court yesterday when dismissing appeals against conviction and sentence by Te Ringa Mangu Mihaka, , aged 33, unemployed, on two ' charges arising from incidents at a political meeting in the Cashmere High School hall last November; Which was addressed by the: Prime Minister (Mr Rowling) | land the then candidate for! jche Sydenham Seat, Mr J. N.i I Kirk.’ Mihaka was convicted,! after a defended hearing, by' :Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M., lin the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court, on charges of : wilful trespass on the premi- ; ses of Cashmere High School hall by refusing to leave after being warned to do so by Hanley James Smith, a person lawfully in: charge, and of obstructing al constable in the execution ofi his duty. Mihaka was fined $5O on; each charge. Mr N. W. Williamson ap-: peared for the Crown. Mi-) haka conducted his own appeal. He could find no ground; (on which he could fault the) (Magistrate’s findings on the! 'facts, and the Magistrate! had directed himself cor-' rectly on the law, said his! (Honour. It could not be pro-! perly said that the penalties imposed were excessive.