TO RIDICULE LANG

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 163, 6 April 1932, Page 9

TO RIDICULE LANG

Cutting of Ribbon on Sydney Bridge DE GROOT IN COURT J (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Rec. April 5, 9.35 p.m.) Sydney, April 5. Hearing was continued in the Central Police Court to-day of the charges against Captain F. E. de Groot, the reserve officer of British Hussars, who slashed the ribbon at the opening of !' ; ) Sydney bridge. He was charged on three counts—damaging the bridge ribbon, behaving in an offensive manner, and using threatening words to a police officer. De Groot was further cross-examined by counsel for the Crown, Mr. Barry. He said thtit he had always been of opinion that an officer in uniform could not be arrested except by a military officer of his own rank: certainly not by a policeman. Mr. Barry: Were you convicted and fined 20/- iu 1930 for assaulting an old man? De Groot: Yes, I remember assaulting somebody for insulting my wife. Detailing plans for preventing the Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, from opening the bridge, De Groot said that Mr. E. Campbell, leader of the New Guard, suggested t.hat Mr. Lang should be arrested for fraud and corruption. De Groot, recommended that that be done later. He added: “I suggested that it would be better to cast ridicule upon him, to cause no Injury to anyone, and yet make the whole world laugh. This scheme would not involve the New Guard. Moreover, nobody had a right to stretch any kind of obstacle across a public road. Therefore to cut the ribbon would constitute no offence. Mr. Campbell agreed that this plan should be adopted.” During the luncheon interval the magistrate viewed the screening of a film depicting De Groot cutting the ribbon. Dr. George Hamilton, who was an eye-witness of the ribbon cutting Incident, said that he was not offended by it. On the contrary, he thoroughly approved it "as a protest against Lang and bls corrupt Government.” He added: “I regard De Groot’s action as a very plucky one, which was endorsed by loyal citizens of New South Wales." The magistrate, Mr. Laidlaw, interjected : "This is no place for a political outburst. I will not allow such references to the Premier and the Government as corrupt.” Other witnesses for the defence expressed approval of De Groot’s action and entire disapproval of disloyalists on the official stands who failed to bare their heads and stand while the National Anthem was being sung. The case will conclude to-morrow.