SEDITIOUS CHARGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17321, 22 May 1918, Page 6

SEDITIOUS CHARGES

the christchurch cases. DECISION OF THE GOVERNMENT. (Peb United Pbess Association.) T , _ WELLINGTON, May 21. GpvorimieiitJias considered tho apF„ v T behal£ °? Huntw, Flood, and Laii£ WOr ° , lm u P nso °ed at Christchuroh + ' and i he Actln S Pnmo Minister ?h« a! - e - pres c !£° foll< ? wul g statement of ?e r Ji|p <^slon of tho Cabinet: — Th ® has given careful consideration to the petitions for the remission to ™ Sent ?f, c . cs unpwed on these men and to representations made on their behalf. It is necessary, m the first place, to dispose of the wg®orti°Ei that the sentences were exS; ( . ho Goverrtment considers that the observations of the magistrate when pronouncing judgment were entirely justified tho r VC<II aDd that considering the nature and circumstances of the offence sentences were lenient. The matters now "urged upon the Government may be - th% *u e exerciK> of clemency by the Crown, but they are quite foreign to the raontb by _ which the magistrate was properly guided m his decision. The only circumstance which weighs with the Governthe for remission i° ?m , OUS naturo °f the resolution s } y J u'' P^P by Langley, and by , Hunter was not obvious to ™ S ii ay Js, who P r «>ded, to the public men on the platform, who abstained from protest, or to a lairge number of persons who voted m favour of the motion when it was put by the Mayor. If proof could have been obtained of active participation by other persons prosecutions would'have been instituted against others as well as against tho three prisoners, but proof sufficient for a criminal case was available only against the tnree. J. lie Government is willing to give credenoe to the statements that the three prisoners did not appreciate the full nature and effect of their actions, but the men have been justly sentenced, and it is most necessary that sedition should be sternly suppressed during the war and that no one should bo led to suppose that such practices may be indulged in with impunity. For that reason the Government cannot advise his Excellency to exercise the Crown's prerogative of clemency unconditionally. It must require as a condition that each of the men shall enter into a bond with two sufficient sureties each m the sum of £50 to be of good behaviour for 12 months, and especially during that period to abstain from all acts and utterances having any seditious tendency- Upon thoso conditions being- accepted and the necessary bonds 'being duly executed the Government is prepared, under the special circumstances of.the case, and having regard to the representations mado by citizens of Christchuroh whose loyalty is beyond question, to advise the release of tho three prisoners. It must bo understood that this is not to constitute a preoedent, and that in future no excuse will be allowed in mitigation of the full punishment which must follow such incitement to any class of the community to refuse obedience to the law or the commission by any nerson of any act which may tend to embarrass the Government and the oountry in tho duo prosecution of the war." Sir James Allen said the Government had not dealt with the ease of Chappie. He added that that case was not in the same category as these others, ajid that Chappie would receive no consideration whatever at the hands of the Government.