ALLEGED SEDITION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 399, 17 May 1922, Page 6

ALLEGED SEDITION.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 16. The charge of sedition against Bishop Liston came before the Supreme Court to-day. When the case was called the accused stepped smartly from olio of the side doors into the Court. Ho took his stand in the dock with bowed head and with his hands clasped behind him while the indictment was read. Sixteen jurors were challenged by the Crown and five by counsel for the defence. At counsel’s request the acwas permitted to take a seat at the barristers’ table. Air Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, in opening the case, said it was for the jury to consider whether the words alleged to have been used camo within the categories prescribed by the law; and if so, was ho guilty of tlio charge preferred. There was a further provision that no one could ho deemed guilty in this connection if it could be shown that there was merely an endeavour in good faith to point out that His Alajesty had been mistaken or misled, or if there were pointed out delects in the constitution of the Government, which subjects it were urged to have changed by lawful means. Air Meredith went on to explain what was a seditions utterance. It was imperative that the tranquility of the State should he preserved and that the people responsible for civil government should see that such utterances were not repeated. The evidence followed on _ the linos of that at the previous hearing.