ALLEGED SEDITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17390, 30 January 1917, Page 9

ALLEGED SEDITION.

P. S. RAMSAY CHARGED. REMANDED TILL FRIDAY. At the Magistrate's Court, yesterday, before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., Peter Scott Ramsay, a young man, who is president of the Anti-Conscrip-tion League, and who was drawn in the first ballot, was .charged on two counts with publishing seditions utterances at Ohristchurch on January 14 and January 12. Mr Raymond, K.C.. appeared for the Crown. /■

The first charge preferred read:— "As more men are put in again and again (to wit imprisoned for the publication of seditious utterances relative to the Military Service Act, 1916) more-will come forward on every occasion simply to demonstrate that the working class freedom must bo fought for throughout the present crisis. Wo, some of lis who aro in the ballot (to wit called up for service under the Military Service Act) cannot give advice legally to those who are now in the second and third ballots as to what we should like them to do, and in any case we are not going to advise any young man to stop away from going into the fight if he thinks he is justified in doing so. But I "we can say what we intend to do ourselves. We are notgoing to go. They cannot make us go. Wo are prepared to take all the penalties of the law and all the punishment they can fix on us rather than break our principles for which we have stood up for so many years in the laboiu movement.".

The second charge read: "To hell with the Conscription Act (to wit the Military Service Act of 1916.)' And I suppose that some of you- may say, ' Oh. you are not quite safe in saying that. You aro as Bob Semple says, knocking at the door of gaol anyway.' True, I am. I quite recognise it. I recognise that some seven weeks ago, when the first ballot (to wit the ballot for compulsory service under the Military Service Act, 1916) was drawn I was drawn i along with these men. J. recognise just now that there is a portion of these men (and I know many of who did not want to go to Trentham (to wit, a military camp of the New Zealand ExpeditionaVy Force), and had not the backbone and kick To stand out. I admit there are many in Trentham drilling while I here possess my freedom as far as I can under the laws of this country as a citizen. I say that as long as possible l*am going to possess that freedom. I say I am not going to drill. 1 am not going to Trentham. They may take me there, but when they get me I guarantee they will never make a soldier of me. 1 have the courage of my convictions. I have been a member of the peace movement since I was fourteen and a. half, and I am not going to give lip the principles for which I have fought for so many .years for the class to which I do noti belong. I ask you to-dav. Is a ma.i who goes believing he is doing wrong or with no desire.to go to the war, or is the man who takes a stand right against the Government, a man who says he will not go. and takes up the same stand, which of the/two is the greater shirker? I know quite well that the statements which T make here to-day may be construed as being seditious"

The accused pleaded, not guilty., and asked for a remand till Thursday, with bail. He also asked for trial by jury. Mr Raymond opposed the application for bail, and remarked that the Court had no jurisdiction in the matter of trial by jury, which was net recognised' by the Legislature in this class of cases. He was prepared for a remand to a dav suitable t-o the Court. As Thursday was a Civil Court day, the accused was remanded trill Friday, bail being refused. Mr Raymond said that copies of the speeches, ir extenso. hgd been-supplied to the accused, as well as copies of the information.