THE LYONS INCIDENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19528, 10 July 1925, Page 6

THE LYONS INCIDENT.

“A BRUTAL SENTENCE.” WATERSIDE WORKERS’ PROTEST. At last Tuesday’s monthly stop-work meeting of the Dunedin Waterside Workers’ Union, the following resolution was passed; That this union of Dunedin waterside workers desires to record its sympathy with Comrade Noel Lyons, and at the same time we axe filled with repugnance Over the brutal sentence of nine months’ hard labour passed on a man whoso only offence lay in trying to improve the standard of life for men serving in the mercantile marine. The vitriolic lash of law which flogged into durance vile an honest man is typically characteristic of capitalirt.Sc spleon, and in this instance'' the much-vaunted phrase “British fairplay and jostioo” has been prostituted beyond all recognition. This union pledges itself to assist in every way tho means of obtaining the release of Noel Lyons. A copy of the resolution has been forwarded to the general secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Worker's* Union* Wellington. “NEGATSOM OF DEMOCRACY.” A HAMILTON PROTEST. (Peb United Pbess Association.) HAMILTON, July 9. The imprisonment of Noel Lyons was discussed by the Hamilton branch of the Labour Flirty. One member said, while all present disagreed. entirely with Lyon’s opinions, he thought the mas s imprisonment, tnough no fault of tho convicting magistrate, was an injustice and a negation of democracy and freedom of speech. The speaker thought the meeting should request an amend msst r.f '-4.-0 Undesirable Immigrants’ Exclusion Act to allow accused the right to produce evidence before a, judge or a magistrate. Other members of the Labour Party, however, differed from, ibis view. They said Lyons hod been denouncing Now Zealand Labour leaders as ‘(paid parasites and servants of the capitalista.” Lyons was doing injury to the Labour movement by not obeying the deportation order, for he knew that the Labour Party, as believers in democracy, were in duty bound to protest against tho Act and its administration., After further discussion the following resolution was unanimously adopted!—“That tho secretary procure further facta, including the legal position end Noel Lyons’s previous history, and then refer matter to the - Hamilton Labour Representation Committee,”