SUBVERSION CASE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23830, 4 December 1940, Page 14

SUBVERSION CASE

SENTENCE ON CLEKK EARLY RELEASE FAVOURED REPORT TO PARLIAMENT [by TF,I.fcGRAPIf-—SPECIAL ItEPORTF.R] >X, Tuesday The opinion that tho prisoner should ho released after serving hall his sentence. subject to the ohsorvance ol certain conditions, was expressed by the M to Z Public Petitions Committee of the House of Represontntiv es, w hen reporting to the House to-day on two petitions praying flint Douglas Murdoch Marl in should be forthwith released from prison and that his sentence should be commuted. The committee recommended that the petitions should he retorted to the Government tor consideration. flic petitioners were N.ida Lily Martin. ol' Wellington, and ]].lH others and Robert Adams, of Wellington, and ;!.¥) others. The report of the committee was presented by the chairman ol the committee. Mr, A. H. .Nordmeyer (Government- Oatuaru), and was adopted without discussion. The following opinion was expressed by tin* committee by way of a note to iis report: "In the opinion of the committee, prisoner should be released when ho has served half his prison term, subject to his conduct in prison in the meantime being sal is| act orv, and to his giving an undertaking to refrain Irom subversive actions during the remaining period of hi< sentence.'' Martin, described as a sociologist, and clerk, aged .10, was found guilty by u jury in the Supreme Court at Wellington hist .Inly on two charges of making subversive statements in speeches, and was .sentenced by the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Mvers. to VI months' imprisonment with hard labour.