CORRESPONDENCE

Grey River Argus, 16 December 1930, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

CAPITALIST JUSTICE. ( (To the Editor.) Sir, —Before me as I write are a ■couple of issues of a Christchurch paper containing reports of a fierce struggle between police and unemployed in the City Council Chambers and 'the subsequent appearance in court and sentences imposed on the ring'leaders of the unemployed. The fierce struggle centred round Comrade A. F. Marshall when a sergeant, three constables and a ’tec proceeded to eject him: this cave-man whom it, required such force to eject is a quiet, unassuming chap about 8 stone weight, so I’ve no doubt the police are proud of their achievement. When the unemployed booed the police the sergeant said:— * 4 That was about all they could do,” and probably he was right under the jcircumstances. The report of the court • proceedings makes interesting reading, exposing as it does the operatadn if ■capitalist justice in suppressing the I working-class demands, as voiced by acknowledged leaders, the demands in this instance being for the right of free speech and assembly, and work, or wages—at trade union rates. During the case Magistrate Mosley said:— I “How men of this type have any in- | fluence on their fellows I can’t imagine; miserable, uneducated individuals of .this type would surely not make any impression on the community generally.” Evidently Mr Mosley is lacking in imagination, as it is apparent the men referred to have made an impression on the unemployed. Probably if the worthy Magistrate lost his job ,and h-ad to exist on “hand-outs’’ etc., I he also would be influenced, and, as i for being uneducated, if his remarks [are what an educated person would pnake, I’ve no doubt his victims would [prefer to be considered uneducated. The sentences imposed were as follows: —Comrade Marshall, convicted and ■sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour on each of two charges of inciting lawlessness, the sentences to be cumulative; convicted and fined £5 for using insulting words, in default of payment within twentyfour hours one month’s imprisonment ■ with hard labour; and fined £3 and costs, in default of payment within twenty-four hours, fourteen days’ imprisonment with hard labour for taking part in a procession. Comrade Porter was sentenced to three months’ hard labour. Comrade McKegney was sentenced to three, months’ hard labour on [each of two charges of assaulting Sergeant A. F. Leekie in the execution of Tiis duty, and wilfully obstructing the jsergeant in his duty. Comrade Hariris was convicted and sentenced to one imonth.’s imprisonment with hard labour on a charge of theft, and fined £5, in default one month’s imprisonment iwith hard labour, for using threatening words. Comrades Fournier and Rennie were each fined £3 and costs for taking I part in an illegal procession. The [theft charge on which Comrade Harris |was convicted was the using of twelve shillings worth of gas without paying for it. As these comrades have no .money to pay fines, it is certain they I will .do full time in gaol. I would say .to workers of the Coast: —It is only a. [question of time before we have simi ilar events as mentioned above occur i I ring here. Make your protest, demand i ;the release of our comrades; show the | powers that be that you will not, re- ' main complacent while the best nisw-

bers of our class are being gaoled for daring to give a lead to the unemployed. No doubt the boss class would be pleased if unemployed workers starved quietly and allowed theii skulls to be cracked by police batons, but to use the words which were inscribed on one of the banners carried by the Christchurch unemployed: “Fools Starve! Men Fight!’’ In ronrlusiQji a few lines from a poem by James Russell Lowell would not be out of place:— They are slaves who fear to speak For the fallen and the weak; They are slaves who will not choose Hatred, scoffing and abuse. Rather than in silence shrink From the truth they needs must think: They arc slaves who dare not be In the right with two or three. I am etc., JACK DOYLE. Nelson Creek.