THE TOKIO ARREST

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4527, 5 April 1934, Page 5

THE TOKIO ARREST

YOUNG BICKERTON'S CHARACTER

The arrest in Janan of a gi'andson of Professor A. W. Bickerton on a charge of Communist activity has interested a great many people who not only knew this young man as a quiet and very deep thinker, but who are well acquainted with the unorthodoxy of his grandfather, who established federative or co-operative homes at Waiohi Park —Waioni is a Maori word meaning "the bend of the water"— where the Avon swung .round past the old house, and had Communistic ideas up to a certain point, though they were very far removed from the Bolshevism that Japan seems to fear (says the Christchurch Star). "Bicky" as he was familiarly known, was a very approachable man, and his enthusiasms could be likened to those of Mr. Ell in his particular sphere of activity. The little bearded smiling figure of the professor, who was never without a very old-fashioned handbag was vei-y familiar inside the Star Office, for he was a frequent contributor of letters and articles and interviews, and in truth he was such a zealous publicity agent for his own pet schemes that the reporting staff used to scatter if they heard "Bicky's" slippers on the stairs. Knowing the wide gulf that separated Professor Bickerton's Communism from what we know of the system that Russia is carrying out to-day, it is very easy to believe that young Bickerton will soon regain his liberty.