“GOOD-BYE, BOYS!”

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 179, 27 April 1931, Page 10

“GOOD-BYE, BOYS!”

Agitator’s Farewell NOISY COURT SCENE Demonstrators Charged Calls of “Good-bye” from a big crowd at the rear of the courtroom, cheering, and a little faint booing, concluded an all-day case in the Police Court on Friday, when three men, John Joseph Robinson, miner, aged 30 years, Roy Ernest Goode, seaman, aged 36 years, and Joseph Smith, carpenter, aged 41 years, were charged on various counts of assaulting and obstructing the police in the execution of their duty. The charges arose from a scuffle that took place at the gates of Parliament grounds on Thursday morning last, when a procession of unemployed demonstrators was refused admission to the grounds by the police, and a section of them endeavoured to rush the gates. Each of the three accused pleaded not guilty. Smith was represented by Mr. Mazengarb, but the other two conducted their own defence, and.their crossexamination of witnesses—particularly Robinson’s questioning—often roused applause from the crowd that stood in court all day to hear the proceedings. Six Men for Deputation.

Sub-Inspector Lopdell said that when the procession arrived at Parliament grounds the leaders were reminded that only six men would be allowed through. Inspector Rawle had been addressing remarks to one of the leaders when someone further back cried, “Rush the gates,” and the accused Robinson had called “Follow me.” The police had had difficulty in stemming the rush of men who tried to push their way through. Senior-Sergeant Butler said lie had been in Vivian Street when the procession was being formed. Three men— Perin, Robinson and Neil —seemed to be in charge, and witness had told them that the Minister of Labour would meet a deputation of six men. Detective Baylis said be and Detective Waterson had gone to Vivian Street when the procession was being formed and had told the leaders that only the deputation would be allowed into Parliament grounds. To Mr. Mazengarb witness said there had been a good deal of fighting at the Parliament grounds gates. The situation had been ugly for a few minutes. Detective-Sergeant Tricklebank said he had been on duty at Parliament grounds when the procession arrived. He had seen Robinson and Smith engaged in active conflict with the police.

To the accused Robinson witness said that Inspector Rawle had not spoken very loudly when he told the procession to stop, and it was quite likely that the men at the back would not hear him. The police case concluded with evidence heard from Detective Kane, Constables Jamieson, McGlinn, Fell and Carlyon, and from Sub-Inspector Lopdell, all of whom were cross-examined by Mr. Mazengarb and by the accused Goode and Robinson. M.P. Gives Evidence. The first witness called by Mr. Mazengarb, on behalf of Smith, was Peter Fraser, M.P., who said he. had known the accused for 12 years and he could testify that his character was an exceptionally good one. Witness had come down to the gates when he saw that something untoward had happened, and there found Smith in charge of some constables, handcuffed. He showed signs of having been roughly handled. At witness’s request the handcuffs had been removed. Witness had also suggested that ’ the accused Robinson be allowed to join with the deputation for the meantime, but that suggestion had not been adopted. Evidence on behalf of Smith was also given by other demonstrators. Giving his decision in the accused Smith’s case, the magistrate said that it seemed abundantly clear that the accused had obstructed the police, but his Worship was doubtful if that obstruction had been wilful. The accused was entitled to the benefit of the doubt, and he would be discharged. Several witnesses were called by the accused Goode, all of whom said they had seen the accused putting up his hands to defend himself. As far as they had seen, the accused had not struck any constable. Frederick Perin, one of the chief witnesses called by the accused Robinson, said he had not seen the accused involved in violent demonstration against the police. Cross-examined by Sub-Inspector Lopdell, witness said that 'Detective Baylis was committing perjury if he said that he had told witness that only a deputation of six men would be allowed inside Parliament grounds. P. Butler, secretary of the General Labourers’ Union, gave evidence that he had known Robinson for about five years and had always found him an honest, upright man. “Proved an Agitator.” In his summing up the magistrate, Mr. E. Page, said that it seemed to him that Robinson was one of the men who had introduced a disorderly note in the procession. He had been told at the entrance to the grounds that only the six men of the deputation would be allowed past the gates, and his reply had been “Follow me.” He had been pushed outside the gates, and had then assaulted one of the constables. The charges against him had been established.

As far as Goode was concerned his part of the affair seemed to be a minor one, but the charge of obstructing the police had been proved against him. He would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called upon. In Robinson’s case, however, it had been proved that he was an agitator, one who encouraged riotous behaviour. He had been before the court on, several occasions on similar charges. He would be sentenced to two months’ imprisonment. .