STRIKE CHARGES HEARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16697, 15 November 1917, Page 5

STRIKE CHARGES HEARD

DISAGREEMENT OF JURY.

SEDITION INDICTMENT.

A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, Nov. 14. The trial of Edward John Kavanagh, M.L.C., Claude Thompson, Albert Charles Willis, and Arthur William Buckley, M.L.A., on charges of conspiracy in connection with the recent strike, ended in the jury failing to agree. A new trial was ordered for November 26. , Buckley was then charged with sedition, and was remanded to the same day. Bail was allowed in all cases.

The indictment against those accused of conspiracy in connection with the late strike contained three counts, the first being that the accused conspired with certain persons to act in the nature of a strike; secondly, that they incited certain employees of the commissioners; and, thirdly, that the accused conspired to prevent the Railway Commissioners from carrying on the railway and tramway services of the State. In his opening address to the jury, counsel for the Crown said the accused were charged with having instigated the strike in the first instance, and with having continued it after the men came out. It was a most serious charge against the accused. What made the matter more lamentable was that this strike, besides paralysing all the resources of the community, was brought on at the time of this great war, the outcome of which they could not see. All possible resources of this community were required to assist the nation in this war. The genisis of the strike was the opposition to conscription. On June 14, at a meeting of delegates at Kavanagh's office—Kavanagh was secretary of the Defence Committee, and remained so until the time of his arresta resolution was moved > and passed " that congress be empowered' to call all sections of workers to act in any way congress deems necessary, should an attempt be made to enforce conscription."