Pacifist Is Egotist Of The First Water

Northern Advocate, 19 February 1942, Page 2

Pacifist Is Egotist Of The First Water

[Per Press Association—Copyright.] WELLINGTON, This Day

Commenting that appellant appeared to be suffering from egoism that amounted almost to megalomania. Mr Justice Ostler yesterday dismissed the appeal of Michael Young organiser, aged 25, against a sentence of three months’ imprisonment passed on him in the Magistrate’s Court as a military defaulter. His Honour said that if he had power to increase the sentence he would do so. Appellant, who had pleaded guilty to the charge, sub-* mitted that the sentence was excessive. The magistrate had said that defaulters would be sentenced to a month, but he had been sentenced to the maximum term because of his alleged subversive activities. Next week he was going to be charged with putting out subversive litera- j ture. but he thought he had already j been sentenced for that. Until sent, j to gaol he was secretary of the Fel- j lowship of Conscientious Objectors, j His Honour said the magistrate had j very wisely not allowed the court to ] be turned into a propaganda centre, j Young had put his undisciplined emo- j tions above safety and the continuance not only of New Zealand but the whole of the British Commonwealth. To his mind prison was the best place at the moment for gentlemen of Young’s mind.