PRISON TERM

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24134, 28 November 1941, Page 9

PRISON TERM

POLICE OBSTRUCTED MEETING AT DOMAIN A carpenter, John Whiteley Boal, aged 28, was charged before Mr. J. Morling, S.M., yesterday, with wilfully obstructing the superintendent of police, Mr. R. Ward, in the execution of his duty on November 23. The charge was denied. On a second charge of holding a meetiug prohibited by the police under the Public Satetv Emergency Regulations, accused elected trial by jury. Superintendent Ward said he received a notice on November 521 stating that a meeting which was prohibited under the regulations was to be held by the Christian Pacifist Society in the Domain on November 23. In consequence he attended at the Domain on the Sunday, after notice had been given to the secretary that the meeting was a forbidden one. When accused was warned not to speak he refused, and was arrested. "In my opinion these meetings are subversive." witness added. Tjhey have in oilier cities, particularly Wellington, been the cause ot disturbances." . , ■, Corroborative evidence was given hv Inspector James Sweeney, who said he had attended a number of meetings in Wellington held by the same society j where disturbances had arisen. Detective ♦Tones suiil accused "toicl Jiini' he had printed about 2t)o copies of a leaflet found in his possession and sent theni to the Peace Pledge Society, the Fellowship of Conscientious Objectors and the Christian Pacifist Society. Sub-Inspector McNamara said accused had been convicted and sent to gaol for three months on a similar charge in Wellington, and had been sentenced to six months for publishing a subversive document. "Apparentlv your views teach you to deliberately flout the law and obstruct the police when they are quietly carrying out their duties." the magistrate said. "Persons holding such views should be the last to talk about peace You are a nuisance, and might possibly be to weak-minded persons harmful. The sacrifice you are going to make by a term of imprisonment is reallv very trifling compared with that of those who are away protecting y °Accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment on the first charge. On the second he was committed to the SupremeConrtfor trial, a plea of not guilty being entered.