BYE-ELECTION ECHO

Grey River Argus, 31 July 1940, Page 10

BYE-ELECTION ECHO

MEETING CHAIRMAN FOUND GUILTY. AUCKLAND, July 29. . Arising out of a speech made by him a s chairman at an .election meeting of the Communist candidate for Auckland West on May 8 in the Renall 1 Street Hall, Fonsonby, Douglas James Morey was charged before Mr Justice Fair and a jury in the Supreme Court with having made a subversive statement infringing the public safety regulations. Accused aefended himself, and insisted that tne charge him should include the whole text of his speech, and not merely excerpts. Accused requested a test of the shorthand reporter who took a note of his speech, Brian A. Snowdon.

The jury to-night brought in a verdict of guilty after a long retirement. Th e jury added a strong recom. mendation to mercy, on the grouna that the expressions were uttered to a very small audience and during h political campaign. His Honour said there were factors which distinguished the case from a deliberate attempt to influence * a large public audience. Further, tne situation was not so serious then as it had since become. He released the prisoner on probation for a term ot three years. He further required the accused to pay £25 towards the cost oi the prosecution within three months: