Clergyman Charged; Sequel To Street Address

Northern Advocate, 30 January 1940, Page 6

Clergyman Charged; Sequel To Street Address

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] AUCKLAND, This Day.

A clergyman, the Rev. Ormond Edward Burton, of Wellington, appeared in the Police Court today. He was arrested on Sunday on charges of having wilfully obstructed Senior-Sergeant J. J. Sparks while in the lawful execution of his duty, and obstructing a public place, namely Quay Street. “When I arrived at the meeting in Quay Street at 2.40 p.m., I saw Burton on a box addressing a meeting, the crowd being then about 250 persons,” said Senior-Sergeant Sparks, in evidence. “Some of his remarks were: ‘I am urging you men not to enlist until we get a change of Government.’ “ ‘The world is full of fear."

“ ‘Germany is in fear of England and England is in fear of Germany." “ ‘Britain and Germany are trying to starve each other out.’

“ ‘We must stop this war, but first we must have a change of Government.’

Chamberlain and Hitler

“He also said that in some respects Mr Chamberlain and Hitler were the same.

“He said Chamberlain represented Imperialism and Hitler Nazi Imperialism,” continued the Senior-Ser-geant. “Just before 3 p.m. about 15 to 20 soldiers and sailors in uniform marched in some sort of order from Queen Street. With two constables, I intercepted them and told them they must not create a disturbance. “I persuaded them to break up their formation, and we kept them there for a while until they broke up in ones, twos and threes, and mingled with the crowd.

Saw Men Threatening Each Other,

“After the soldiers and sailors joined the crowd, there was a lot of singing from portion of the crowd, and shouting from another section. “I pushed my way in close to the speaker. “Then I saw men threatening each other.

“I saw Burton pushed off the box or step down from it, but he immediately got back on it.

“I touched him on the shoulder and said to him, ‘Do you see what you are causing?’ “I pointed to the disorder of the crowd. “I also told him I was afraid I could not keep the peace and that much more serious trouble and a more serious breach would occur.

“I told him that he must stop talking and move away or that I would have to arrest him.

“He did not stop.” Arrested Him

“He then said to me, ‘Am I arrested?’ I said, ‘No, but if you continue I must do my duty and arrest you.’ “He said. ‘l’m going to continue to speak.’ . “I then touched him on the shoulder and said I would arrest him.

“I took him through the crowd and handed him over to a constable, after telling him with what he was charged.” A fight started between a soldier and a civilian right in front of him, Sparks said.

Cross-examined by Burton, Sparks admitted that the first 20 minutes of the meeting was quite orderly, and that the meeting became disorderly when the soldiers and sailors arrived. Soldiers Under Influence.

Burton: Did you observe a soldier under the influence of liquor strike me a heavy blow on the chest?—No, I did not see that, but I saw a soldier under the influence of liquor. Evidence was also given by SubInspector D. L. Calwell, who said some of the soldiers were under the influence of liquor.

They started a lot of interjections and. as there was a likelihood of serious trouble developing, the staff of police was increased. “The majority of the crowd were hostile to Burton and his subject. “However, the meeting was orderly until the soldiers arrived.” Not All Intoxicated.

Mr Morling: Would you suggest that all the soldiers were under thd influence of liquor?—No, sir, only about half a dozen were thrown off their balance. by the liquor they had consumed. The older soldiers were trying to quieten them. Detectives F. Brady said he heard Burton state that he was a Christian pacifist. He was loudly booed when he said Mr Chamberlain was no better than Hitler or that Imperialism was no better than Nazi Hitlerism. “A soldier in front of me told Burton that it was only the fact that he wore his collar back to front that saved him,” Detective Brady continued. Would Have Used Violence.

Burton told the soldier that if he liked he would take the collar off altogether, and that he could still look after himself.”

Constable McMath said that, in his opinion, the soldiers would have used violence to Burton if they could have been near enough to him. The' court then adjourned for lunch.