N.Z. PACIFISTS

Grey River Argus, 6 September 1939, Page 9

N.Z. PACIFISTS

Charged in Court ANTI-RECRUITING ACTIVITIES. , WELLINGTON, September 4. Described as members of the New Zealand Christian Pacifist Society, the Rev. Ormond Edward Burton. M.A.. minister of the 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, Wellington, today. charged with obstructing policemen in the execution of their duty Burton was alleged to have obstrucl‘ed 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. on Wednesday. Burton, he said, was apparently the leader of the three, who were members of the New Zealand Christian Pacifist Society. The charges arose oid of an address he had been giving to a crowd of between 200 and 300 persons outside Parliament Buildings. In style, the address was against recruiting, and when told to stop he said he would go on to-morrow and every dav throughout the war. “I told him it was an inopportune time to make such an address to young men,” said Sub-Inspector O’Neill. The 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 a 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 qnd Trail both stated (hat thfjy, .too, did not wish to he hailed out.