CRITIC OF WAR EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24828, 30 January 1942, Page 4

CRITIC OF WAR EFFORT

SPEECH FROM VERANDA ROOF SENTENCED FOR RESISTING ARREST (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 29. A young man ' who caused a brief sensation neat' the intersection of Queen and Customs streets shortly after 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon by speaking from the veranda roof to a crowd which gradually swelled, pleaded guilty in the Police Court to-day to charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.. The accused was John Henry Daly, aged 24, a labourer. The police said that Daly climbed the veranda when the streets were very busy, and started a speech of criticism of the war effort, in which mention was made of the Prime Minister, "Paddy" Webb,-, and "Bob" Semple. Street pedestrian traffic was blocked, and when a constable got oh.the veranda i roof tov remove, Daly the latter.' threatened to'throw himself from the veranda and strongly resisted" arrest. This was his first appearance before the court/ He, was Tecehtiy:,employed on the Savage Memorial w or k at Bastion Point. ;■ ■■ • Daly told the magistrate that he did not intend to throw himself down, but to slide down one of the poles. The magistrate, Mr F. H. Levien.told Daly that the town would soon be most disorderly if everyone who wanted to air his views went on to veranda roofs of public buildings to do so. . . On the charge, of disorderly behaviour, Daly was convicted and discharged, and ■on the other charge Was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. ...