Slogans Bring “Procession” To Court

Northern Advocate, 28 January 1939, Page 15

Slogans Bring “Procession” To Court

WELLINGTON, This Day.

Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., strongly condemned what he termed “roundabout prosecution,” when dismissing a case in which three defendants were charged with taking part in a procession without a permit. Mr Luxford remarked that such procedure was shocking. It was stated that a fourth person was concerned, but no summons had yet been served against hinn In the opinion of Mr Luxford, thp defendants had really been brought to court because they displayed slogans which were stated to oppose the buying of Japanese goods, although, in fact, t they had been charged with a breach of the by-law. ‘Round-About Prosecutions.*

“I have the greatest objection to “round-about prosecutions,” said Mr Luxford. “It is not because, they were four people walking along the street that these people are before the court.

“It is ridiculous to suppose that four people walking like these people could have the slightest effect on the proper use of the street. “They are being brought before the court because they displayed slogans and they have had to do it by this by-law. “If it is wrong for them to display slogans, then they should have a law to say they cannot do it, “I do not like prosecutions being brought under the guise of their having formed a procession, when the real purpose is to stop them from displaying slogans.”

The prosecuting sub-inspector defined a procession as “an array of persons or vehicles arranged in succession, and moving in a formal manner.”

Asked how long he had been a smoker, a witness in a Melbourne court case replied: “fifty years.” “And how much tobacco, now, do you smoke weekly?” was the next question, “Two ounces,” replied the witness. “H’m—quite moderate,” commented counsel. “Nevertheless it means, in plain English. that you’ve spent, in all, about £l5O, approximately, in smoke?” “Well what about it?” demanded witness, “I've had value —and good value, too, for my money.” Counsel shrugged his shoulders and sat down. Well, £l5O, spread over half-a-century is not so much after all. Good tobacco is worth more than it costs. Take our New Zealand brands, for example, and think of the comfort and enjoyment they represent to the smoker. Is there anything else that could yield him so much pleasure? There are five of these brands: Riverhead Gold, Desert Gold. Navy Cut No. 3, Cavendish, and Cut Plug No. 10. Delightful, every one of them—and quite harmless. They are toasted! The demand for all five proves conclusively the appreciation in which they are held everywhere. R,P. 24.