TERM IN GAOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21972, 1 December 1934, Page 11

TERM IN GAOL

GRIFFIN SENTENCED

A PROHIBITED IMMIGRANT * DUTCH DICTATION TEST SYDNEY COURT " DECISION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 30, 7.25 p.m.) SYDNEY. Nov. 30 Gerald Griffin, aged 28, salesman, of New Zealand, was to-day convicted and sentenced to six months' imprisonment on a charge of being a prohibited immigrant. A customs officer, Richard Wilson, gave evidence that Griffin submitted to a dictation test in Dutch. ° Griffin, replying, said: " On the advice of my solicitor, I object to these proceedings." 5 . ' The magistrate said he would leave it to the Crown authorities to determine when the sentence should expire. Griffin recently went to Australia, but was forbidden to Jancl. He -was sent back to Xew Zealand, but made an unexpected reappearance in Australia and addressed various ■ meetings. He said at Newcastle: "I.am determined to continue this evasion until such time as I am assured that freedom of speech and action are possible in democratic Australia. I have no diesire to voice my political views? I merely wish to denounce war and Fascism." A police search for him was maintained, and last Sunday, after he had addressed a meeting in Sydney Domain, he was arrested. Griffin himself did not resist arrest, but there was a short scuffle with other men, and a $ constable received minor njuries. Egou Kisch, the Czecho-Slorakian author, was similarly charged with being a prohibited immigrant at Sydney on Wednesday. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, pending his deportation.