HENRY HOLLAND’S CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 29

HENRY HOLLAND’S CASE.

CABINET WILL NOT INTERFERE. iFuom Our Own *(,obrespcn dent.) WELLINGTON, July 8. A formal ploa for tha release of Henry Holland, one of the loaders of the Fedora-' 1 tion of Labour now serving a sentence of imprisonment for sedition, was made by Mr ' C. F. Meyer, a member of a depuation representing- the Federated Timber Workers’ Union, which waited on the Prime Minister to-day. The speaker reminded Mr Massey that letters had come from all over the country asking for the release of Holland, and the Federation of Timber Workers at its conference had decided to appeal to the Prime Minister. Holland had been worked up when he made the statement for which ho was punished, and the Act was really obsolete. In England it was practically a dead letter, and he urged that such old laws should not be ‘‘dug up.” The Prime Minister said that no Government had anything to do with the administration of justice. Holland had committed an offence, and had broken the laws of tha country. He was tried by the Chief Justioa and a jury of his fellow-countrymen in tha Supreme Court. “I can express no opinion.” said Mr Massey, “as to the severity of tha sentence or otherwise. It would be a very serious matter if the Government or Parliament comes to interfere with the decisions of the courts. If I committed an offence I should have to submit aa well as anybody else and take the consequences. I don’t see rny way—and the Government docs not ese its way —to make any recommendations with regard to the remission of Holland’s sentence.”' Mr Meyer: That’s straight enough..’ Mr Massey; If a man breaks the law ha must pay the penalty.