CORRESPONDENCE. MR JOHN GILLESPIE’S CASE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 929, 30 January 1924, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

MR JOHN GILLESPIE’S CASE.

TO THE ' EDITOB. Sii^ —I was more than pleased to see oy your issue of the 26th inst that M 1 Gillespie is determined to get justice, however long the process may be i have studied this case most carefully, and I have no hesitation whatever in saying that Mr Gillespie is performing a public duty in asserting his rjg' This case must be fought to a finish, and every man who respects freedom aud fair-dealing should support Mr. Gillespie in every way possible. Get me ask your readers to consider: (i) What Mr T. Wilford, Leader of the Opposition, said in Parliament, when the committee’s report was presented (v. Hansard) : “The finding of the committee was a great surprise to him. On the statement of the petitioner his case seemed unanswerable, and he had known the man for about thirty years, and knew him to be upright and honourable. It was a great shock to him to find that the committee had no recommendation to make.'’ These words by Mr Wilford are very grave, so grave, indeed, that any right-thinking man would demand a fuller investigation. Much more important, however, than Mr Wilford’s words, is the fact that the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), in his judgment, said in effect that Mr Gillespie had committed no offence, or crime, and completely exonerated him. What stronger evidence could the Government desire than his Honour’s judgment? I desire to emphasise the fact that a citizen in British territory has suffered a grave wrong, has been put to hundreds of pounds of expense, and that it is the supreme duty of every man to support Mr Gillespie’until he has received justice and has been vindicated and recompensed. I suggest to Mr Gillespie to appeal to the public, through the platform and press, for this is the last constitutional tribunal, where generous instincts and -a sense of public justice will respond. The Government must listen, for if this case is permitted to go by the board, then no one can feel safe, and a blot will be on our administration.

I was present at the Empire Hall when, in the presence of 500 citizens of Palmerston North and district, 1 moved the resolution which was unanimously carried and forwarded to Mr. lllassey, demanding a public enquiry auto Mr Gillespie’s case, and now after more than twelve months I say unreservedly that every word then spoken, and the resolutions passed, were absolutely true and unanswerable in every particular.—l -am, etc., WM. THOMSON, Palmerston North, January 29, 1924.