PACIFIST RALLY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20034, 5 September 1939, Page 14

PACIFIST RALLY

THREE MEN IN COURT PUBLIC SPEECH SEQUEL,. CLERGYMAN AS LEADER REFUSAL OF BAIL (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day.. Described as members of the New Zealand Christian Pacifist Society, the Rev. Ormond Edward Burton, M.A., minister of Webb Street Methodist Church, Michael Young, a printer, aged 22, and Neil Henry Trail, a costing clerk, aged 21, appeared before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington yesterday charged with obstructing policemen in the execution of their duty. Burton was alleged to have _obslructed Sub-Inspector D. J. O'Neill and Young and Trail were alleged to ;have obstructed Sergeant J: McKie. Sub-Inspector O’Neill asked for a remand till 10 a.m. cn. Wednesday. Burton, he said, was apparently the leader of the three, who were members of the New Zealand Chriscian Pacifist Society. The charges arose out of an address he had been giving to a crowd of between 200 and 300 people outside Pai.'h'.mer.t Buildings. in style the address was against recruiting and, when told to stop, he said he would go on to-morrow and every day throughout the war. “I told him it was an inopportune time to make such an. address to young men,” said Sub-Inspector O’Neill. Tiie magistrate (to Burton): Are you asking for bail? Burton: No. I have no money available for the purpose. Sub-Inspector O’Neill: It would not be r. question of bail. The magistrate: If you give an undertaking not to address another meeting, I am prepared to let you out. Burton: I am not prepared to give that undertaking. The magistrate: Then I am afraid I cannot let you out. I do not know the circumstances of the case, but you will have to be careful you do not say anything seditious or more serious charges might be made in these difficult times. Young and Trail both stated they too, did not wish to be bailed out.