DEMONSTRATION AFTERMATH

Evening Star, Issue 20982, 22 December 1931, Page 8

DEMONSTRATION AFTERMATH

PROSECUTION FOR DEFAMATORY LIBEL POLICE INSPECTOR ATTACKED IN PAMPHLET [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, December 22. The magistrate (Mr Hunt) to-day granted an application by the Crown Prosecutor for leave to prosecute George Budd and Ernest Frederick Thompson for alleged defamatory libel. Ho said the matter arose out of a demonstration of unemployed in Parliament Grounds, Wellington, on September 16. In subsequent court proceedings Police-inspector Lander stated that he was without batons or handcuffs. Later, at a meeting in the theatre in Auckland, leaflets were distributed by Thompson bearing Budd’s imprint. The pamphlets were headed “War,” and asserted that Inspector Lander “had perjured himself,” and referred to him as “a perjurer, liar, and attacker of defenceless men, women, and children.” Counsel opposed the application. He said both men were now serving sentences of three months, and if the application were granted they would, after release, have to appear at the Supreme Court in February. He also criticised the procedure of applying under the Crimes Act, under which a penalty was one or two years in craol, instead of under the libel law, with penalty of £IOO or three months. The pamphlet, he added, had a limited circulation. The magistrate said that in Ins opinion it was a proper application.