TRAMS HELD UP

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 84, 10 April 1931, Page 10

TRAMS HELD UP

STRIKERS' PROCESSION

SEQUEL IN COURT

FINE OE £20 IMPOSED

Philip Gordon Brazier and John Sandford, described by the police as "agitators," appeared before Mr. K. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day to answer charges arising from an unemployed demonstration through, the city last Saturday, when traffic was held up, and trolly poles of train cars were removed from the overhead wires. Brazier, who was charged with marching a procession in Willis, Manners, and Cuba streets, in. consequenco of which others were induced (o march so as to impede traffic, and also with causing a procession, was fined £20 on tho first count. On the second charge ho was convicted mid ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Similar charges wcro laid against Sandford, but the Magistrate held that there was insufficient evidence in his case to "warrant a conviction, and accordingly dismissed tho case. The charges were laid under the city bylaws.

"These two defendants are known members of the Communist Party, and on the dato in question had arranged for a procession of strikers to demonstrate through the town," said SubInspector Lopdell in opening the case for the police. "The majority who took part in the procession appeared to be quite young, and. more or less irresponsible types of .larrikins."

The two defendants, continued the Sub-Inspector, were from time to time in. front of the procession, sometimes at the side, and sometimes at the back. When in Lambton quay one of the defendants stood in front of a tram and held out his arm while the procession turned round. As the procession neared Stewart Dawson's corner on the return journey it was found that members of the procession were interfering with the pulley attached to the trolly pole of a tram. They were remonstrated with, and from that time on the procession marched up Willis street and through Manners street on the tram track, holding up traffic. DETECTIVE'S EVIDENCE. Detective Kano said that he- saw trams held up at the intersection of Featherston street and Lambton quay. Some of the members of the procession were deliberately walking in front of a tram which was trying to proceed towards Stewart Dawson's. Others were persisting in pulling the trolly pole off the wires.

Witness caught one man actually pulling off the pole, and was warning him'when he was surrounded by a hostile crowd. One man attempted to assault him and used obscene language. He spoke to the two defendants, and Brazier appeared to be in charge of the procession. "Witness told Brazier that they were supposed to conduct themselves and not to be interfering with the traffic. Brazier replied that lie would take no instructions from him. He waved his arms to the crowd and said: "Carry on fellows; don't listen to this guy." The defendant Saudford, when spoken to, said that the motorman had no right to attempt to drive through the' procession. ' . -

The procession then continued along Willis street, Brazier running alongside and giving instructions. ■ The conduct of the majority of those in the procession was disorderly, and they appeared to be making a special point of hindering tramcars. They proceeded in that way as far the Trades Hall in Vivian street.

Cross-examined by Brazier, witness said that he (Brazier) was not the only one who was shepherding the procession, but he appeared to be the principal one. .'ln'reply to a further question by Sandford v the detective stated that-he was unaware that there had been a large meeting at the Trades Hall before the procession. TROLLY POLE PULLED OFF. Motorman J. W., Williams said he was driving a tram in the direction of of Island Bay, and when he reached j the Bank of New Bealahd he encounter-1 ed the procession. He was held up on this account and the trolly pole was pulled off on four occasions.

Conductor Payne said that he saw the trolly pole pulled off, but he could nbt say definitely by whom: The rfan who pulled it off had fair hair, had a hat on the back of his head, and was not wearing an. overcoat.

A pedestrian who witnessed the procession, Mr. P.- St. J. Keenan, said that he saw one of those in the- procession run round to the back of the tram and pull the trolly pole off, but he was quite sure that neither of the defendants had anything to do with it.

FurtKer evidence of the trolly pole incidents was given by Motorman Hansen, who said that when he got into the middle of the procession a man jumped on his car and asked him. to stop. Witness. would not stop, and when he attempted to drive on the trolly pole was pulled off. Neither of the defendants was the one who jumped on the tram.

■ Evidence was also given by other tramway officials and a number of policemen as to the behaviour of the members of the procession when going through "Willis and Manners streets.

Cross-examined by the defendants, none could state whether they had actually seen Sandford in the procession. Several of the constables said that they had seen Brazier speaking to the crowd. DEFENDANT IN THE BOX. Giving evidence, Brazier said that he attended a meeting in the Trades Hall on Ist April called by tho Militant Workers' League- to discuss ways and moans of combating the reduction in wages of relief workers. It was decided to down tools, and the following day the jobs were visited, with the result that the majority downed tools. On Saturday ho addressed a meeting in a yard at tho Trades Hall, and the suggestion was made from the men themselves that there should be a ■demonstration against the newspapers. He admitted taking part iv the procession, but maintained that it would be ridiculous to pick out two indir viduals and hold them responsible.

Cross-examined by tho Sub-Inspector, Brazier said that, in his opinion, the procession was of far more importance than people travelling to their destination; in fact, he said, he would not have minded if tho traffic, had been held up all day. When the procession had to pass a motor-car it swung out on to tho rails, and the motorman of the tram rushed at tho procession. This annoyed the men and was really the cause of'tho whole- trouble.

Witnesses called by Brazier gave evidence as to tho part he had taken at the meeting at the Trades Hall, and said that he had had nothing to do with the removal of the trolly poles from tho wires. "DELIBERATE ATTEMPT." "It is abundantly clear that Brazier was taking an active part iv the procession," said Mr. Pago when entering a conviction. "If this had been an ordinary procession I might have dealt with it differently, but it seems to me that this procession developed into a deliberate attempt to hold up the jfeaffife'-! ..,..,...., ~ . -. ■