CHRISTCHURCH STREET BY LAW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15184, 1 July 1911, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH STREET BY LAW.

. -WHOLESALE FINES. (Feb United Pbess Association.) CHBISTCHURCH, June 30. Alfred Thurkettle was charged at the Police Court this morning, before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., with having prayed aloud in Cathedral square, contrary to the terms of the by-law. Mr Flesher, for the defendant, stated that the case had been before the court before. He read an official letter which the Salvation Army had received from the City Council granting it permission to hold meetings at what was recognised as its stand. The defendant would submit the matter to the cpurt, but he believed himself that the matter was one for dismissal or for a v nominal penalty. On behalf of his client he admitted a technical offence. His Worship commented on the fact that one offence had been committed deliberately after earlier ones had been before the court, and while the matter was sub judice. On the first counts defendant would be .convicted and ordered to pay costs, 7s ;on each charge. On the last count "(that on which he had commented) defendant would be convicted and fined 20s and costs. Frederick Reilly Cooke did not appear in.answer to a charge that he delivered an address on Socialism in Cathedral square, contrary to the terms of the bylaw. After evidence had been heard a fine of 10s and costs was inflicted. Wyatt Jones, who did not appear, was charged' with a similar offence committed at the same time and in the same place. A fine of 10s and costs was inflicted. Charles Sadler Smith, who did not appear, was charged' that on April 16 he had preached in Cathedral square contrary to the by-law. After hearing the police evidence a fine of 10s wa6 inflicted.

SELF-MADE MARTYRS.

INTERVIEW WITH SOCIALISTS. " A thirfg is not necessarily true because a man dies for it," nor is a man who suffers for a half-truth necessarily a martyr. He may be merely a selfmade martyr, which i 6 quite a different thing. In Christchurch Frederick Eeilly Cooke, a Socialist, voiced his doctrine in defiance of by-law no 5. In due course Cooke appeared before the court. Tho penalty was a light one, considering that the offence, slight as it was, had been deliberately committed. On April 7 he was convicted and ordered to- pay costs (76) and solicitor's fee (£1 Is) for having delivered an address in Cathedral square on February 26. Notice of fine was issued from the office of the court on April 25, and as no notice was taken of this a distress warrant was issued on May 26. The warrant was returned endorsed "no effects." Yesterday a warrant of commitment was issued, and to-day a reporter saw the " martyr" taken to tho lock-up in a cab. There was nothing spectacular about it—merely a very small man walking quietly between a large sergeant and a very large constable. A reporter followed to the police" station. He desired to hear Cooke's own explanation, for he recognised that there might be other and quite different reasons than those that were most apparent why the Socialist was taking the option. The regulations stood in the way, and he found that he could not obtain permission to have speech with the willing prisoner. While he wa6 at the station Cooke's solicitor came to have an interview with him. After the consultation was over the solicitor informed the reporter that with Cooke it was a matter of conscience. He would not pay the fine, and he would not thank anyone else if they paid it for him. Later, the reporter called at Cooke's shop. He found there Charles White, who is a member of the Dominion as well as the. local executive of the Xew Zealand Socialist party. White said that he could speak on behalf of both sides. They would not pay the penalty for Cooke, nor would he thank them if they did pay it. It was a matter of principle. It was an absurd position that a man should go to gaol for a breach of a law that had been repealed. Had it continued in force others would have come forward to take his place. They would have done as they did in 'Frisco, California, U.S.A., where they flooded gaols and congested the law business until they had won their point. " Of course," he said, " one does not like to see a comrade go to gaol, but at the same time one feels that it is in the cause of liberty of speech, and must result in benefit to the cause,'' Asked whether Cooke was married, White replied that he was, and had three sons. He pointed to two youths in the shop. "These are two of them—both Socialists, and both anti-militarists. Tli.it one wrote a letter to the paper." The reporter turned to the sons and asked what they thought about it. "About what?" asked one. " Lyltclton," answer the oilier laconically. " Oh, well, a rest's as good as a change they fay," and the reporter realised that they were scarcely fit subjects for aa interview.