THE BACK WAGES CASE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 168, 9 April 1908, Page 9

THE BACK WAGES CASE.

v POSITION OP THE GOVERNMENT. ; ■ ' | (BY : TELEGUAPII- —PRESS- ASSOCIATION.) Diincrlln, April 8. '■■.It is understood.tho position taken by'.tho Government 'over tho. Dixon case at Drury is that, it - was a private prosecution for tho recovery -of A" debt'.which,.according to tho Court/ was. duo for. back'.wages', in excess of the'amount paid. . -• "A NEW;'ZEALAND' HAMPDEN:" (l!T TELEGRAPH.—SrECIAI, CORRESPONDENT;) ,' . Auckland, April 8. , Under, the caption of '.'A New Zealand Hampden,'' a correspondent writes to the "Herald" on the subject of the Dixon case as follows When John Hampden refused to pay what ho'considered to bo an .unjust exaction,-: he was probably thought by his neighbours to bo a Quixotic purist. There was the law,' duly approved by .tho ■ majority of His Majesty's judges. The tax. was duly levied by > recognised and constitutional means', l'hough .John Hampden coulcl easily have paid liis dues, lie loved freedom rather than case, and ho saw in tho exaction of shfp money the sacrifice iof the principle of liberty, without which wealth,' social consideration, oase— nay, life itsc-lf—bad no attractions. His reward has been that his name has come down tho centuries as the .synonym of liberty, and will endure as such whilo tho raco shall last: W. Dixon, of Drury; tfas gono to gaol rather than . submit, to :an oxaction ■ which every principle of liberty and commonsensp declares to be'an unjust exaction '. . .In what; respect does-his act differ from vfchat of Hami)Jen? . I say in no .respect. Each was 'making 'lus protest against,,a tyrant's act, tho net of both/tyrants being, in strict accordance with 'tlio lav/."; ; : MR..MASSEY'S'TELEGRAM.. '■ Int TBi.EaiIAIMI—I'UESS ASSOCIATiOtn ' ■ Auckland,! April 8. /The following is the text of the telegram sent by Mr. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, to the Minister for'sJustice, in reference to the Dixon case: — ._ " Will you kindly inquire into tho circumstances connectkl with the imprisonment of J., W. DixiVn, at present in Mount;.Eden.'..Cinol, and wire me if any . proipect of-release? '.Very, strong feel.mg; that Dixon is. suffering from in-. ; justice."