EMBARRASSING RECRUITING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3065, 28 April 1917, Page 10

EMBARRASSING RECRUITING

AUTHOR CHARGED WITH SEDITION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, April 27. A charge of publishing a seditious utterance in a pamphlet entitled "Men and Marbles" was'made against Harry R.Urquhart, M.A., in the Police Court to-day. . Defendant pleaded guilty. The Crown solicitor, Mr. J. A. Tole,. said tho pamphlet was the ieport of a speech made by defendant on January 28. The book was a diatribe against conscription. Oyer 2000 copies had been published. In times of-peace it might pe called an academic discussion, but the present-was not the time for this sort of academic discussion. The book was liable to hinder recruiting. Defendant might bo a fanatic, but, if guilty, should be put away to prevent' further similar utterances. Defendant said he had no idea of anything else- except telling the true teachings of Jesus Christ. His work was not mere rambling, haviug been written with sincerity. AVhen thn Military Service Act was passed ho resigned a position as school teacher. The Magistrate (Mr. Cutten): Did you not hold a commission as an officer? Defendant: I was an officer in the Territorials prior to tho war. Mr. Cutten': How do you reconcile that with your present position? Defendant explained that he resigned after attending a meeting of the Students' Christian Union, because it" mado such an impression on him' that lie did not think lie should hold tho commission: Mr. Cutten said that having read the book he had no ■ difficulty as to the question of conviction. It was obvious that the book must tend to embarrass recruiting and discourage the successful prosecution of tho war, andinterfere with the enforcement of tho law. The question of penalty was a great problem. _ The book showed defendant to be quite sincere, and, though' he might bo utterly wrong, it was so remarkably well written as to make the matter all the more serious. Defendant's obvious good character, and obvious sincerity, would tend to make one lenient, but ho could not see how a man who considered it his duty to propagate such views could bo left at large. He would leave the matter of penalty over until Monday.