BILL BAYLEY'S BLUSTER

NZ Truth, Issue 730, 14 June 1919, Page 1

BILL BAYLEY'S BLUSTER

Prohib. Propagandist Penalised His Nasty Nig-nagging at Napier. Convicted of and Fined for using Insulting Language. William Do well Bay ley, one of the trio of "Imported Pests," otherwise, Cold Cheer Caterwaulers from Canada, received a well- merited check at the Napier Magistrate's Court on Thursday of last week. On. that date, a Napier tribunal' after hearing and weighing all the evidence, convicted Bayley of having at Port Ahuriri used insulting language to one Richard White, and imposed the maximum penalty, viz., a fine of £5 and £2 10s costs. It appears that White, who is ; A RETURNED SOLDIER, with nearly two years ot service to ■his credit, having been discharged on account of wounds received m July, 1917, ordinarily follows the occupation of a barrri&n, but on or about April Q was engaged as a clerk by the Licensed Victuallers' Association at Napiar. On Sunday afternoon, April G, Bayley addressed a public meeting at Port Ahuriri, and from all accounts it was a quiet and, orderly gathering of citizens. An invitation to ask questions was extended to those present, and White availed himself of the opportunity and asked a number. White was not m uniform, but Wore putties, and also wore a returned soldier's badge. Among ihe questions asked by White was orieV. touching on Bayley's remarks at Palriierston North, which had led to disorder, and it is clear that the purport of the question asked by White nettled Bayley, who wanted to know the ria,me, occupation and the wages received by the questioner. This brought from White the retort, "Would you like my birth certificate and marriage lines?. My«l name is White, and I was a member of the Expeditionary Forces. My occupation is that of a barman. lam a clerk. to the Licensed Victuallers' Association, and because of that I am Interested m this (the liquor) question. .'. Bayley answered four questions put to him, by Wihite. and after answering other queries put to him by various,., people m the audience, Bayley, who was perched on a motor car, became very aggressive, and wanted to know where he was, pointing a finger at White, who stood forward and said, "Here I am." Bayley then, declared "You're a traitor, and I want to tell. you this, if you're engaged m suoh an infamous- traffic you are not fit to wear the King's uniform. YOU'RE .^' SCQUNBREL," This was ,tl&" insulting-^ language oomplained of; White declared: "That's a He, Mr. Bayley, I have Keen honorably discharged -.oh account of wounds received m action, and I;/a*n fit to wear the King's uhifoi'm." , : ' Bayley's unwarrantable outburst got the packs up of a considerable', section of the audience", which made angry demonstrations, \as Mr. B. J. Dolan, who appeare'3 for the prosecution,

explained'; matters might have fared badly with Bayley, had- not the driver of the car got it away pretty smartly. However, the crowd boohed- as Bayley left, and, according to the evidence, when leaving, Bayley stuck out a very long tongue. These : w-ere the facts. Mr. White did riot encourage the outraged crowd, but rather sought to quieten those who threatened to empty Bayley into the "Iron Pot." At any rate, it is clear that Bayley's unbridled tongue got him into trouble, and had it not been for the promptitude of the driver, many things might have happened to Bill Dowell Bayley, of Winnipeg, where a big strike is on. All the witnesses, (and there were several) called to corroborate Mr. White's version, agreed that nothing was said to justify Bayley's Insulting remarks, but on the contrary, it was said that Bayley's remarks were of a PROVOCATIVE AND IMPUDENT . CHARACTER. V He seems to have lost his temper, because White had asked a proper Question, viz., concerning Bayley's outburst •at Palmerston North, which si committee declared to be "a grave error of Judgment," and that he (Bay. ley) had caused deep and bitter rer sentment, not only among soldiers, but also among truly patriotic New Zealandera. Under cross-examination by Mr. Dolan, 1 and after having ihad time to reflect, Bayley declared m court that he could, not now feel that he was justified m using the term "traitor" or the word "scoundrel," but he added insult to injury by declaring that 'he thought he was still entitled to say that "White was not fit to wear the Kings uniform. Some idea of the prohib. feeling with regard to the ' term "scoundrel" might be gathered from the crossexamination of Canon Clark, who while declining to .admit that the language attributed to Bayley was offensive, he did not consider the word "scoundrel," as applied to White, as being offensive, and the Canon went on to say that he had often called a man a scoundrel. Canon Clark is admittedly . a Prohib., but m the witness box swore HE WAS NOT BIASSED. The chairman of the gathering was, a Mr. W. G. Jarvis, manager of a vineyard, and his view of the language used by Bayley was that it was ua- ; charitable. . ' ■ '■' In ordinary circumstances, "Truth" would be inclined to dismiss the matter with little comment, taking into consideration the fact that on occasions such as the taking of a Liquor Referendum, party feeling runs very high, arid that, words are used which, to say the least of it., should not be used. Bayley, of. ''Rule Britannia" fame, and all the way from Winnipeg, however, deserves .. no consideration. Right .through^jkhe./piece, ; he. has not hesitated • ■'tO ('MALIGN ;THB SOLDIER, dead or alive, and -m this connection his experience;' at'; the ■Napier. Magis-' trace's, Court will teaph him the neces* sity af bridling His. tongue when it comes to the question, of brave men who went to. the >an and . ,did their bit. Ariyhdw, ■vv.Hat dobs] 'the AUJance think of its importation.