FINE IMPOSED

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1935, Page 2

FINE IMPOSED

PARLIAMENT HOUSE THEFT (Per Press Association, Copyri?at). WELLINGTON, March 29. The disappearance of an agenda paper from Parliament House aftei a deputation of unemployed ha t ] waited on the Unemployment Board there on March 13 resulted in a man named jOh-merod being charged today with the- theft of it- He pleaded not guiltyTne principal witness was John Thomson Waugh, .private secretary to Sir Alexander Young, who said that he happened to pass a Communist meeting, and he stopped to listen to Ormcrod, who was speaking, and who produced an agenda paper, saying That, copy had been left behind, and he had pounced upon it, or used works to that sheet., .Much evidence was given on both sides, the defence being a complete denial. . , The Magistrate said that it seomec clear that ttie defendant must ho convicted. It was impossible +o get away from the evidence of Waugh. At this stage, the Detective-Sergeant said: “This man is just an ordinary Communist agitator. He has been eonvicted for lighting, using obscene language, and writing on a house.’ • The Magistral: “There has justoccurred .in the last minute, the 'ei\ thimr which I had hoped would be prevented! That fact that a Magistrate or a Detective-Sergeant, or counsel mignt regard the Communist ’ Party as ail enemy of the State con cl not lie taken into consideration, as .it had always been the law that enemies of the State were entitled to the ! S 3 me trial and the same penalties for a non-political offence as virtuous citizens wore. The Communist Party was not an illegal body, and the reference to it was not relevant.’’ Pointing out that Ormcrocl had not previously been before the Court on any charge involving dishonesty , the Magistrate. Mr Pa<m .imposed a- fine of £o with , costs 325, allowing six weeks in which <o pay the fine.