STRIKE PRISONERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16165, 29 August 1914, Page 4

STRIKE PRISONERS.

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER. QUESTION OF RELEASE. (Pkb United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, August 28. This afternoon the Primo Minister was waited on by a deputation (including several members of Parliament) ■which represented all sections of Labour, and urged that the four men now in gaol for oli'ences committed during the strike should be released. In introducing the deputation, Dr. Newman, M.P., said it represented most of the unions in Wellington, and they considered that, as six of the strike prisoners had been released, it was only reaeonablo to ask that the general amnesty should be extended to the four men who were still in gaol. Mr Sullivan, president- of the United Federation of Labour,jSwd they felt tKeie had been a subsidenceJajjjffs&lass feeling during the past few woefcs; end it would commend itself to the majority of the people if the men now in gaol were released. As to those men who had records and other offences against them, he contended that they had already paid the penalty. The Prime Minister: 'I think I am right in saying that two of these men had been convicted of shooting with intent. The Hon. A. L. Herdman: One was convicted of shooting with intent at the Commissioner of Police, and the other for firing a revolver in front of the post office. Mr Moriarty said that he had just returned from Canterbury, and found a general feeling of satisfaction at the Government having released six of the strike prisoners, and there was a general feeling, also, that, at a time like this, breadwinners should be released. Mr J. Robertson, M.P., said he thought that when the Imperial Government made a general amnesty an the case of strike prisoners no distinctions wcro drawn. If the breadwinners were liberated, they would be in a better position to support their families, ■who are now supported out of the rates. Mr Holland said that, as he had been released, the Government could not justify its action m. keeping the other men in goal, because he had been convicted of inciting to acts of violence people who were now in gaol, who, it was alleged,- had been misled by him. It was a greater offence than that committed by any other of the men who wore in gaol. "You will never understand the gaol system," he added, "until you have had an opportunity of sampling your own gaol system."—(Laughter.) In "addition, he said the deputation represented organised Labour throughout New Zealand, and he contendrrl that nothing 'would b<? , lost to the dominion if these people were released. Mr G. Witty, M.P., stud that, when the Petitions Committee recommended the release of the strike prisoners it was endorsd by every member of Parliament, and it was expected that all of them would be released. The strikers of the past were among the most loyal subjects of the dominion to-day. ' In replying, the Prime Minister said that reference had been made to discrimination. The reason for it must be obvious. The Cabinet took into consideration the records of th? men who were in gaol, and the offences for which they were convicted, and ho did not think it could be denied that the offences for which they were convicted were much more serious than the offences of those who were released. A "record" always counted when a man was 1 convicted. Tho practice was that when it was proposed to release a. prisoner the jndge who sentenced him was consulted, and if his recommendation we-s favourable, so much the better for the man. This was a matter for Cabinet. Ho did not propose to commit the Government in nn-v way, but he would bring it before the Cabinet, and the Cabinet would decide it. The Hon. A. L. Herdinan said he wanted the deputation to clearly understand that the Cabinet carefully considered the question before it was decided to except these four men from the amnesty. In the caseof one of the four there were eight previous convictions, in the caso of another seven previous convictions, and in tho enso of another 13 previous convictions. Speaking personally, he thought the're must bo discrimination between von who had boon convicted before and men 'who toad no previous convictions Dr Newman: Holland was convicted before. Mr Hertlman: Ho was convicted for a purely political ofloneo. These ape not political convictions; they are breaches of tho criminal law. Mr Semiile: Very small onos. Mr Hordman : May bo; hut ovon if they arc small I think yon will agree that 13 convictions against, tho criminal inw sbamp a man as one who should bo looked after. Tho point. I want, to make is this: Tho Government must discriminate between the men who have been of good character in tho past, and who. in a state of excitement, have- become involved in an industrial troublo, and men who ha.vo noon constantly boforo tho court ami convicted on several charges. I shall bo glad to discuss tho matter with my colleagues. Tho view I take is that there- is not much prospect of my coming to the conclusion that there is much justification for those men being released.