ALLEGED SUBVERSIVE STATEMENT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 239, 4 July 1940, Page 6

ALLEGED SUBVERSIVE STATEMENT

Man Committed For Tria)

After pleading not. guilty in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, ,\esterduy, to a charge of publishing a sub-

versive statement, namely a speech at a public meeting in the Rio Grande Hall, Miramar, on the night of Sunday, May 19, UMO, Douglas Murdoch

Martin, for whom Mr. W. P. Rollings appeared, was committed by Mt. Colliding, S.M., to the Supreme Court for trial, lie was admitted to bail. Mr. IV. 11. Cunningham prosecuted on behalf of the Crown. A qualified shorthand writer, Jack McLean, civil servant, said lie attended I lie meeting with Detectives S. C. Browne and A. Reid. About 30 persons were present, and Martin, who was chairman, opened the proceedings. Witness look a shorthand record of the speeches. He transcribed his notes next day and handed his report to the police. After the two detectives had given evidence Mr. Rollings submitted that on a fair construction of what accused had said he should not be sent on for trial. A good deal of his remarks were ironical and his reference to German propaganda was quite harmless. . The magistrate commented that if

it. appeared to him that, a prima facie case bad been established it was his duty to commit accused for trial. “I think there is a case against Martin,’' the magistrate added. ft was stated in evidence that the meeting in question was held to protest against, the imprisonment, of Ormond .Edward Burton and XTalford Graham X<vttle, who were sentenced for obstructing the police. AUCKLAND CHARGE (By Telegraph—X’ress Association.) AL'CKXAND, July 3. Appearing on summons in the Magistrates’ Court, Alexander Drennan, waterside worker, was charged with publishing a subversive statement in the course of an open-air speech during the Auckland West by-election in support of the Communist candidate. After unsuccessfully submitting that the charge should be dismissed, Drennan elected to be tried by jury. He said the facts he brought to light were current opinions that found their way into the daily Press and into current periodicals. He considered that no jury in a democratic country like New Zealand would establish a case against him.

The magistrate, Mr. I.evien: Xt is not my task to find you guilty or not guilty. Drennan pleaded not guilty. He tvas committed for trial to the Supreme Court.