PRISON FOR COMMUNIST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20766, 8 January 1931, Page 12

PRISON FOR COMMUNIST.

THEFT OF RELIEF FUNDS

CHRISTCHURCH UNEMPLOYED

CONNECTION WITH PARTY.

[liY TEI.EOnAt'Jr. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

CHKISTCHURCH, Wednesday. / When William Ronnie, a porter, aged 53, formerly secretary of tho Communist Party in Christchurch, ,f.ook churgo of £4 to. bo paid over to tho dependants of members of tho party, recently, dealt with in tho Courts,.ho jumped into a taxi and set out to distribute tho moneys, lie failed lo account for £2 and paid the taxi fares out of tho £4 given to him. Rennie, who admitted a long list of previous convictions, was convicted by Mr. 11. P. La wry, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court t his morning and sentenced to ono month's imprisonment with hard labour for tho theft of £2 2s 6d, the property of tho Christ church unemployed workers movement. Tho original charge was in respect of £4, but as Ronnie had delivered BOmo of tho money tho chargo was Emended by the magistrate.

Chief-Dctectivc Carroll conducted tho case for tho polico and Mr. Russell appeared for accused. Tho chief• dctecfivo. said that, up to December 20 Retime was the secretary of the Communist Party in ChristchUrch. The unemployed workers movement whs associated with tho Communist Party in some, way or other or at least carried on business in tho same offices. Rennio was suspended .from oflico by the president, Mr. Sydney Fournier, and a week later expelled by a meeting of tho party. Gift Irom Seaman's Union. • On December 29 Bonnie was in the hall where the party and tho unemployed met and Thomas Martin, agent for the Seamen's Union, Lyttclton, called with £3 which bad boon received from Wellington to be distributed to the depondants of the men McKegney, Harris and Porter, who had recently been sent to gaol , for various offences arid another £1 to go to Mrs. Porter. Ronnie took chargo of it and gave Martin receipts, although ho had no authority to handlo it. Ho bad not since accounted for tho money. Ho gave Mrs. Porter £1 and received a receipt, for £2, although Mrs. Porter did not get tho other pound. Another pound iio gavo to a. Airs. Musgrave, tho . mot her of McKegney. llennio admitted spending some of the money on taxis and drink. /Sydney Fournier, who described himself its . a stonemason and group leader of tho Communist Party in Christchurch, said that Konnie had been suspended by him for neglect of duty, drunkenness and malpractice. Heimie did not acquaint him Ihat lie had received any money after December 20 Mr. Hussell: Has'your group any rules? Witness.—Undoubtedly yes. Are they written? —Yes. Whore, were thev composed?— They were, edited and composed by the central executive of the Communist Party in Wellington. What provision is there for deposing of a secretary ?—Tho group leader has power to suspend him for malpractice or dishonesty. He has tho right of appeal to the rank and file. 41 We Glory Him." Did Rennio exercise that right ?—No. Has he been before a meeting of the rank and file?— Yes. VY hat is tho relation of the Communist Party and unemployed workers movement ?—The organisations are distinct but have an identical tactic. I see you-are authorised to collect for Marshall- „ Hasn't he- been expelled ? ."Marshall is in prison. He has not been expelled. We glory him," replied .tvitriess. Ihe chief detective produced a list beginning in 1921 containing convictions against Renrtie for theft, receiving, for being idle and disorderly and for being 6 rogue and vagabond. Mr. Russell said that the offence had been committed while Rennie was on a drinking bout. He askod the magistrate to take into account the fact that the manner of receiving money for the workers movement had ' been very lax. Rennie had not been asked for a" statement and it was probable that tho matter had started through the laxity of the commitee.