SUNDAY BOOK HAWKING

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 4 November 1933, Page 6

SUNDAY BOOK HAWKING

CARAVAN TOURING PARTV PAIR CHARGED AT NELSON. CALL AT CONSTABLE’S HOME MAGISTRATE ISSUES WARNING (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NELSON, Nov. 3. A case with most unusual features came before Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., to-da.y when Frank Butt and Myra Fanny Butt were charged with working at their calling of hawking books for sale in view of a public place on Sunday. Both pleaded not guilty. Senior-Sergeant Stark said the defendants were two of a party touring in caravans. They were representatives of some religious society. Constable M. Lines stated that Frank Butt came to his place and displayed a number of hooks. Butt said !he was not giving the books away but asked for a contribution in return for which he would be given a hook. Butt had asked if the constable was not willing to help in the Lord’s work, the j constable replying that that was not j the point. . ] He expressed th© opinion that Butt was committing a breach of the law by doing 'his business on a Sunday. Butt isaid he did not recognise Sunday, which had ended 2000 years ago. On the constable’s saying he would report the matter Butt became abusive. Frank Butt in evidence said he was a true and sincere believer of Christ. He was a minister of the Gospel and he and others enjoyed their voluntary work for society. He represented it was their mission to go from home to home to preach the gospel of the Kingdom. The magistrate: How do you liver Butt: I have friends who help me. What do you earn? —I earn nothing. ‘Wluufc 3>ecome>S' of Tlie money P—lt is all paid in to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, of 114th Street, New York. This is becoming complicated. However worthy your motives you are breaking the law. Why don’t you confine your work to the other six days?— Sunday is the best day, as the men are at home then and it is to them we wish to preach the gospel. ■Do you not recognise Sunday?—Yes, of course we do. It is the Sabbath we do not recognise. His Worship said that looking at the matter - from -the mundane side they were getting their food, etc., from grants from the society in return for their services. “It is the most extraordinary case I have ever come across,” he added.

Addressing the sergeant the magistrate asked: “Are they humbugs or are they sincere, erroneous as they might he?” Sergeant Stark’s reply was that he considered them sincere.

The magistrate said he did not intend to inflict a penalty but the defendants must stop their Sunday activities. Asked if they would comply with that suggestion neither would give an undertaking. “Well, the law must take its course'” said Mr Maunsell. “I am not going to allow you to defy the law.” Butt: The law was made for evildoers. We are not evildoers. Wo are preaching the gospel as any other minister does on a Sunday.

Three times the magistrate asked if the defendants intended to continue to defy the law. On the final opportunity Frank Butt replied “No.” Both were convicted and fined 20s. with costs 11s 6d. Butt: What, is the alternative? Mr Maun sell: I will fix the alternative now if you wish. If you don’t pay the fine X will issue a, distress warrant on your van.

On this intimation the defendants left the eonrt.