FINED £25

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 10, 12 July 1922, Page 6

FINED £25

ALEXANDER GALBRAITH CONVICTED FOR INCITING VIOLENCE. A fine of £25, in default two months' imprisonment, was imposed by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., yesterday afternoon on Alexander Galb'raith, who waa charged with inciting violence in an address on " Tho Downfall of Capitalism " at the Communist Hall, Manners-street, on 4th June last. . Mr. P. S. K. Macassey appeared for the Crown, and the defendant was represented by Mr. J, F. B. Stevenson. Giving evidence after The Post went to press, Charles Albert Bloomfield, the blind man who attended the meeting, said he was an organ grinder. The first part of the speech was purely historical, but he was disappointed in the second part of the speech as it did. not come up to his expectations. He looked upon the lecture as an attack on the Labour movement. Witness joined in the discussion at the close of the lecture, and he had told them that they would do much better if they went out into tho streets instead of addressing themselves. He expressed the opinion that the Labour Party would do more good than the Communists, who were not doing anything good or evil. There was no point in the lecture, and the only suggestion of violence aroused was in himself, for he had a desire " to punch more sense into the lecturer." (Laughter.) James Dilleston, a storeman in the Wellington Harbour Board, said he was Galbraith's brother-in-law.. The speech, in the opinion of witness, who was not a member of the Communist Party, was quite an orderly one, and would not incite anyone to violence. The detective's report of the speech was fairly true, but merely consisted of extracts. In /convicting the defendant, the Magistrate' said that if he thought he would come to any other conclusion than that at which he had arrived, he would reserve his decision. He had listened carefully to all that had been said By the defendant's counsel, who had urged that Galbraith should be given the, benefit of any. doubt that existed. The only element of doubt that could possibly exist was as to whether the words were said or not. Detective-Sergeant Lewis had given him a long account of what had taken place, and he was satisfied that the words had encouraged lawlessness. Defendant's manner of speech was deliberate and vigorous, and it was probable that he had been carried away by his subject. A Magistrate's chief aim was to preserve the peace of the community in which he lived, and if such speeches as that of the defendant were allowed indiscriminately, it would be very difficult to maintain the peace of the communiif. Such speeches might have a serious effect on any ill-balanced mind. In the present instance he did not propose to send the defendant to prison. " I would point out to him, however, that if he aspires to become a law-maker, he must obey the laws," said , Mr. Hunt. " He' will be fined £25, in default two months in gaol." ;