SUBVERSION CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 134, 7 June 1940, Page 9

SUBVERSION CHARGE

MAN FOR TRIAL

SUNDAY NIGHT SPEECH

After the hearing of police evidence in the Magistrate's Court today against Alexander Galbraith oh a charge of publishing a subversive statement, namely, a speech at a meeting in the Trades Hall, he pleaded not guilty and was committed by Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., to the Supreme Court for trial.

The Crown Prosecutor (Mr. W^ H. Cunningham) appeared for the prosecution, and; Galbraith conducted his own defence.

Jack McLean, a qualified shorthand reporter, said that he attended a meeting in the Trades Hall on the night of Sunday, March 10, with Detectives Smeaton and Alty. The chairman was a Mn Kydd, and one of the speakers was Galbraith. The meeting lasted from 8 to 10 o'clock As witness entered the hall he was handed a pamphlet headed ''Conspiracy Against the Communist Party," which he produced in court. He took a shorthand note of what was said by every speaker and produced a transcript, from which he read the report of Galbraith's speech. Cross-examined by Galbraithi the witness did not agree that he would make errors in his report. Galbraith drew attention to what he said was ah error, and the Magistrate .rettiarked jthat. sometimes apparent errors in reports were the fault of the speaker and not of the steno» grapher> Dfetectiye P, C, Smeatofa said that Gtalbraith was the president oi the Communist Party in Wellington. The witness considered McLean's report n good report of what had been said at the meeting, which was attended by about 45 people. 'Cross-examining the detective, Gellbraith said he was the chairman Of the party; "We have not come to the. stage where we have a president yet,'' he said.

Galbraith contended that parts of the report of his speech appeared jumbled* To the Magistrate, the witness said that'" portions of the actual speech, did appear to be jumbled. Detective J. & Alty corroborated the evidence of Detective Smeaton. Ho said that Galbraith said he Was tired at the meeting, and did look tired, and that in his (Detective Ally's) opinion Galbraith was just as likely to make errors as the shorthand reporter.

Galbraith reserved his defence. He was allowed bail in the sum of £200, with one surety Of £200 or two of £100.