WAR REGULATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16994, 3 May 1917, Page 8

WAR REGULATIONS

! WEBB BEFORE THE COURT. REMANDED TILL FRIDAY. BAIL REFUSED. f; » ! (Pmm iPnxss Abbootatiok.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 2. P. Wobb, M.P., appeared before Mr Bailey, S.M., this afternoon. Mr ' Raymond, K. 0., represented tho Crown, \aud accused was not represented by counsel. Tho charges were that,®on February 22, at Taylorville, ho did publish tho following seditious languago" Now that thel Government aro taking men by force (meaning thereby administering the provisions of tho Military Servico Act, 1916, rclativo to compulsory military service), I say it is up to .the men and women to rise and say to the Government: ' You will not tako one man.' If wo allow this Government to : / tako men by fqj'cc we are guilty ourselves of tho crime committed by tho Government," which utteranco was seditious in that tho publication thereof had a ten-' dency to interfere with the effective con- , duct of tho military preparations of his Majesty and to cncourago opposition to tho enforcement of the laws in force in New "Zealand relative to compulsory military servico and to interfere with tho proper and effective administration of thoso laws. That on April 19. at Grey mouth, ho published the following seditious utterance: "."Tho minors (meaning thereby certain coal miners then engaged m a strike) aro fighting against conscription, and would go to gaol rather than shirk what they feel to bo v, their duty to tho country. That is their ; ' sentiments >at the .present time. They aro not fighting for themselves alone; they aro fighting for thousands of people who aro not ablo to fight for themselves (meaning thereby the men subject, to compulsory ■ ;"... . military service under the "Military Servico Act, 1916), and when tho true history of ! the part played by tho miners during this great struggle is written I am certain that the miners will stand out in letters of gold as compared with any other section of the community." Both charges wero laid under clause 1 ; ; of tho War Regulations, published on De- " oember 4, 1916." 'The accused pleaded not guilty to both charges. i _Mr Raymond said the accused had ar-'j ; rived from Wellington only that morning, . and ho applied for adjournment at Christ- , \ church till next Friday, when witnesses S . who "are on their way would be in Christchurch. With this case there would bo taken two others against two defendants who wero arrested on tho West Coast and'l were on their way to Christchurch. The Accused, asked if 'there was any' chance ' of getting an adjournment to Wellington. "I would like," he said, "if pos- :' siblo, to be remanded to Wellington. It is my intention to call a number of witnesses who will bo attending tho big miners' conference there, and I also desire '. to call ' several Ministers of the Crown, V and I think Wellington would be tho most I ■ ' convenient-place." Mr, Raymond opposed an adjournment to ! j Wellington. 1 . / Tlio Accused said it would be quite imEossible for him to establish the evidence o hoped to bring unless an adjournment to Wellington was granted. A large number v. of his witnesses would be in Wellington on '■ -May 10, and it would be the most convenient place v particularly as he wished to ■ ' subpeena Ministers of the Crown. * ! . Tho Magistrate: A further adjournment could be given for that purpose if you •have not time between now and Friday to get your witnesses. You can get adjourn- > ; ment purpose. The Crown does i not want to hamper you in any way in getting your witnesses. The Accused: I am tot in the same position as the Crown in tlys respect. I shall probably require a number of witnesses, and it will mean a good deal of expense. I don't think it is fair that I should be called upon to call witnesses from the West Coast to Christchurch. The Magistrate: You would have/to call them to Wellington. " ' ■ \ The Accused: They will probably be in Wellington on that date. The Magistrate: Don't they come this way? « i Tie Accused': They will probably go right through. They<have to be in Wellington :■ on tho 10th. Some of them will go by s Nelson or Picton. The Westport men will go by Picton. • Tho Magistrate: They might come this ,way. The Accused^: It would bo inconvenient • for tbem. I would prefer to bo tried in Greypouth, and if not in Gr.eymouth. in Wellington, which is qentral and the place **— where both the rmistors and the men can give evidence.Tho Magistrate: If the men are to be in . -Wellington on tho 10th they, could bo here on thp 9th. There is a train from Greymouth three days a week. • The Magistrate granted a remand until next Friday at Christchurch, and said'that if tho ,accused wanted a further remand to got ■ witnesses he could apply for it. Every facility would bo given him to get his witnesses. • The Accused, in "applying for bail,'said ho would have to work up (his case; and he Would be in a difficult position unless ho,, was admitted to bail. "I believe . the function of the court is to mete out jus- • tice/' ho said. "It is a question whether I can, get the necessary information for my defence, and I ask you to the question of bail favourably." * N ; Mr Raymond: I oppose the application for bail. This class of caso is regarded as . extremely grave at the present time. Every ' possible facility will bo granted to- tho accused to • prepare his defence. Tho Magistrate.: I have refused bail in all previous cases, and I will not make an exception- in this case. ARRECTS AT RUNANGA • / ft {Peb United Press Association.) ■/■>. GREYMOUTH, May 2. P. O'Rorte and James O'Brien were arrested to-day at Runanga. The arrests are believed to be in connection with speeches ... 1 made during the municipal campaign, when both ■ spokw _ as members deputed to place tho coal; miners' position in regard to tho conscription strike beforo tho Labour party's meeting at Greymouth. _ P. C. Webb, who was arrested at Wellington, addressed tho same meeting. x ALLEGED SEDITIOUS UTTERANCE. CHARGE DISMISSED. - CPKR D»ixiro PB*RS ARSOOIATTOHJ . CHRISTCHURCH, May 2. ; At the Police Court William James Clegg , was charged with making a seditious utterance in. a'restaurant in respect to German submarines. The magistrate held that tho ovidencc was inconclusive, and. dismissed . tho caso. " CONSIDERATION BY MINERS. (Peb United Punas Association.) 'r:h:jr 'GREYMOUTH, May 2. A meeting of tho State miners was held 'to-night, when the' matter of the arrest of Mr P. C. 'Webb and others was considered. Tho men.will contirruo work as usual.