WOMAN SENT TO PRISON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 138, 13 May 1941, Page 5

WOMAN SENT TO PRISON

PROHIBITED MEETING

(Press Assn.) WELRIN G i UN, May 12. totaling Uiut He did not intend to consider the aex ol accused, and that

sue must be treated as any otiier person wtio set herseir above the law,' the Magistrate (Mr J, L. totout) sentenced Constance May Jones, aged 22, a clerk, to three months' imprisonment on a

charge of obstructing (Superintendent Lopuell in the lawful execution of lus duty at a Christian Pacifist meeting in Manners Street on Friday night. Air Lopdell said that A. C. Barrington, secretary of the Christian Pacifist Society, -made a boast in the Supreme Court the other dav that the next speaker would he a woman, and consequently on Friday night quite an expectant crowd gatnereu. borne apparently were out lor a bit ol fun. She commenced to speak and lie prohibited the meeting, but she refused to cease and was arrested. The reason for the prohibition in the first instance was because of an intimation he received from Barrington setting forth as one of the purposes that New Zealand should withdraw from the war at once and the assistance of all the people should he enlisted'to that end. As that purpose was, to his mind, subversive and he feared subversive propaganda at meetings, and that public disorder would result, he decided that the meeting under the auspices of the society should be prohibited. Defendant pointed out that eight men were previously before the Court, all charged with conducting or attempting to conduct a prohibited meeting. Mr Lopdell said they had decided to be as considerate to her as they possibly could. The charge was a matter lor himself and the authorities.