SEDITION CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3062, 25 April 1917, Page 5

SEDITION CHARGES

EXPLANATION CONCERNING A ■'•■■ CABLEGRAM. :

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, April 24.

. At the trial of John Jones, president \of ' the' Coalminers' Federation, charged with conspiring to encourage a seditious strike at Taupiri mines, bubInspector M'llveney gave evidence or the arrest of defendant and others at Huntly, tho search'of houses and the union offices, and the seizure or documents. . Defendant gave> - every assistance. Jordan, another defendant, admitted having written and posted a notice at the Extended pithead on February i2Bi •';■ '-.-. .', ■■ ' , .-• Mr. Singer, for defendant, asked permission to make an explanation which his clients were anxious to.have made respecting correspondence' dealing with the Australian strike. Mr. Meredith in his opening address had made a strong point of a cablegram sent to Australia, signed "Arbuckle," and stating: "Have .granted New Zealand Government permission," Prosecuting counsel suggested/that the body of which Arbuckle was the mouthpiece, was acting as a superior body to tho New Zealand Government, and that the' destinies of New Zealand were not controlled by representative Government, but by a select coterie known as the Coalminers' Federated Union. As, a, matter of fact, when, Mr. Meredith made that part of his address, he was not aware of the circumstances under which the. cablegram was sent. . The matter was of importance .to the miners, and they, wished,if to he known that, they did-not usurp the functions 'of the. executive Government, but that the transactions and cablegrams between Arbuckle and.■ .the Australian jninerswere carried out and sent with the consent and knowledge of the New Zealand Government. More than that, they were sent at the expense of the New Zealand Government. What might be known as tho."permission cable" to Australia was written in ,the presence and at the request of the' Minister.of Justice, and sent away by tho Minister or one of his secretaries. The wording of the telegram, was decided by the parties in conference, including tho Hon. J. Hanan, and it was written by ono of Mr. Hanan's secretaries.

Sub-Inspector 'M'llveney proceeding, read telegrams and letters found in the defendants' possession relating to matters of the federation. Among the documents were a series of telegrams and letters, signed by Arbuckle, in. which the policy of restriction was frequently referred to as the subject of a ballot by tho West Coast mines, and the eventual agreement of all the miners there except those of Millerton to adoption of "restriction." The case was proceeding when the Court adjourned.