CLASH WITH POLICE

Evening Star, Issue 20863, 5 August 1931, Page 3

CLASH WITH POLICE

CHRISTCHURCH STREET TROUBLE [I’EK UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, August 4. In connection with the recent trouble between the police and processionists, the Magistrate (Mr Mosley) said there had been much contradictory evidence, bub it was impossible for hint to conclude that the police officers, as had been alleged, had, at the risk of their own lives, incited the crowd to attack them.

M'Kcgncy, on the charge of unlawfully resisting arrest, was sentenced to three months’ hard labour. Dodge, for resisting arrest, was sentenced to two months’ hard labour. Riley was fined £5 for disorderly behaviour. M'Kcgney and Dodgo were fined .£•") each for disorderly behaviour,- and Dodge and Riley .£2 each for taking part in an unauthorised procession. The magistrate held the charges of inciting to lawlessness proven, but ho said ho did not wish to be unnecessarily hard on the men who had been punished for the othc- offences Jle dismissed the informations, using his discretionary ’powers under the Offenders Probation Act.

lliley asked for time to pay the fine, but he refused to accept the magistrate’s condition that if he were allowed a month he would refrain in the meantime from associating himself with lawlessness of a similar kind. Thereupon, the magistrate said that no time would he allowed. The fine must ho paid forthwith, in default two months’ imprisonment.