STREET MEETINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21148, 4 October 1930, Page 10

STREET MEETINGS.

UNEMPLOYED LEADER FINED,

(Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 3. Ten men were charged to-day with holding unemployed meetings in Garrett street without a permit. One of them said, he had been jockeyed’i between the City Council and the Police Department in regard to an application for a permit, and had proceeded without one. An appeal was made to the magistrate (Mr E. Page) that they looked to him for justice. Mr Page disclaimed any intention of entering into the merits or demerits of the claims of those who held meetings. All he had to decide was the question of obstruction, and he thought there had been reasonable obstruction. In regard to the laying of the charges, he did not look upon the charge as a serious one, and would impose a fine on only one individual, as it was an organisation which held the meeting. He picked on John Sandford, chairman of one meeting, fined him £3, and gave him a month to pay, as Sandford said he was broke and did not know when he would be in work, and the unemployed organisation also was broke. Eley Hitikin, chairman of another meeting, was similarly dealt with.