"SOVIET RUSSIA"

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 6 July 1921, Page 8

"SOVIET RUSSIA"

SALE OF PAMPHLET

(BY a-ELEUBAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION ."> . AUCKLAND, July 5 A charge of having sold a pamphlet entitled "Inside Soviet Russia," which encouraged or incited violence or lawlessness, was brought against John Douglas Robt-rtson before Mr. Poynton, S.M., to-day. Mr. Meredith, for the prosecution, said the pamphlet was sold to a constable in plain clothes at defendant's house. The book purported to be an account of- what happened in Russia, by a Frenchmember of the Allied military commission that visited Russia. The author, was a frank admirer of Bolshevism, and claimed that what Bolshevism did for Russia it would do for the rest of the world. He bitterly attacked the Allies' policy towards Bolshevism and proceeded to general comments which supported an international revolution. . The book practically supported a violent revolution, ".or violent tactics hoiioi'ably undertaken as undertaken by the Bolsheviks."

Mr. Sullivan, for the defence, submitted that there should have been evidence of persons having been actually invited to violence by the pamphlet — "evidence of these weak-minded people who are said to be in the community." Counsel submitted that the pamphlet came through the Customs Department, and, after having been held up for a time, was passed. Defendant gave evidence and admitted he sold the pamphlet. He had read it in parts. He said that because of the information it contained about the Soviet Government he had published the newspaper "Common Wealth" up to March last. Witness was secretary of the International Socialist Club, and the newspaper he had published was largely extracts on Socialism.

Mr. Meredith stated that at the time the Customs had no power to stop sush literature.

Decision was reserved