CHARGES OF SEDITION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14047, 18 July 1916, Page 9

CHARGES OF SEDITION.

PROSECUTIONS AT PALMERSTON. EDITOR BEFORE THE COURT. FLAXWOR-KERS* SECRETARY AND A CIRCULAR, THE STRIKE THREAT. (Per Press Association.) PALMERSTON N, last night. At the Magistrate's Court, before Mr Hewitt. S.M.. to-day, two charges of alleged seditious publication wei'e preferred against P. O. Freeth, editor of the "Manawatu Daily Times. The charges wei-e: (1) On May.. 27, 1916, at Palmerston North, did,. publish m the Manawatu Daily Times matter to indicate disloyalty m respect to war — a letter under the nora de plume of "Shirker"; (2) On May 27th, 1916, did publish matter likely to interfere with recruiting m a letter with the signature of "Shirker." Defendonfc pleaded not guilty. Mr Meredith appeared for the prosecution, and Mi" Cooper for the defendant. Mr Meredith said he wanted to disavpw any suggestion on the part of the editor or management of the paper of disloyal sentiment. On the contrary, the editor dealt trenchantly andt fearlessly with questions arising out of tho war, and had always maintained a strong patriotic attitude. The letter published under the name of "Shirker"- contained sentiments practically of rank sedition. In a subsequent issue, Mr Freeth, criticised and disavowed the letter, but the fact of its publication was , considered prejudicial at the present time. The letter forming the subject of the charge was read, and publication was admitted. Mr Cooper said the publication of such letters was done so that the writers could be "slated" editorially. There was nothing m the letter that, could be con-s-trued into anything that was prejudicial to recruiting. He asked his Worship to look at the matter from a broad point of view, and he .-would , say. the effect would not turn one man. away Ifrom fighting for his country. The letter appealed to a certain class who would never enlist. They were a negligible quantity. There was nothing to indicate disloyalty m the letter. It was insult im>' no doubt to our legislators and men with capital. His Worship said the reference might raise thowrht m some minds that rich men should part with their wealth before other men should enlist. Mi" Cooper said he would submit later issues of the paper, showing its attitude on tho present crisis, and also editorial comment on "Shirker's" letter, which showed the editor's brpadminded and patriotic attitude., Counsel further stated tliat the publication of the letter had not interfered with recruiting m Palmerston. When the last reinforcement was called up it was over-strength. Pierce Charles-. Freeth,. managing editor of the Manawatu Daily Times, said he had received letters on the present-' situation, and selected one, which was that of "Shirker," Ifor publication, and. -had dealt, with it editorially a few days later. He had entirely disagreed with the sentiments it contained. Mr Meredith -.Have, you any objection to giving the name of the contributor? Witness objected to giving the name of an anonymous writer. Mr Meredith said it had been suggested that "Shir-ker's" letter was not likely to interfere with recruiting, but he asked would.- "Shirker" .have been allowed to address a public meeting and use tlie words he did m the letter? Counsel sajd "No.". Ho read portions of the letter, which he claimed, suggested that men should not fight for "the monied classes." There was further suggestion-— that anybody who enlisted was dancing to the piping of politicians. There was no suggestion of disloyalty on the port of defendant, it was all owing to the publication of such letters as "Shirker's." It was introducing the writer to a much larger assemblage* than he -would "get in* any other -way. As Mr Freeth refused to give the writer's name, and the publisher was not a responsible party, counsel contended that the editor was responsible. Tho publication of the letter had been a distinct, breach of, the regulations. His Worship said he. would take time to consider the .matter. If defendant were- convicted the case was evidently one for a nominal fine. He would reserve judgment. At the Magistrate's Court to-day T. ' Robinson, secretary of the Flaxmirls" • Employees' Union, was charged on tho information o): the police with on June 12, 1916, at Palmerston North, expressing seditious intention, by delivering to a person unknown a certain document, to Ant, a letter m the words following: — Manawatu Flaxmills' Employees' Union, Britannia Buildings, June 12, 1916. — Dean* Comrade. — At a special mass i meeting of tlie above Union, held on Saturday last, June 10, .1916, for the purpose of discussing conscription, the following resolution was -unanimously carried : "That-, the meeting pledges itself, by signature of the attached form provided, that ,it, -will immediately goon strike the moment the Conscription Act is put into operation to enforce' any man against .his wish^ oi% conscience to join the "forces, and .that -all flaxmills be circularised calling on members not present fa give, a ; similar undertaking. Further, . the meeting resolves to act , upon any other suggestion tliat may be considered necessary .to .obstruct the Act." Acting > under instructions from, the above meeting, .J. Thorn, .jor, myself will visit your "place of employment on Monday, June 17, for the purpose of getting your sijr-natm-e ;to the i above pledge. "Kindly notify workers m:, your district. — Yours faithfully, P. T. Robinson, secretary. • .* "Mr .Meredith appeared for the prosecution, apd Mi* Copper for the defendant, who pleaded not -guilty. , - . . Detective-Sergeant Quirke . said he showed Robinson. the circular which it - was. alleged that) lie had sent round the, flaxmills for signatures. -,-. .Robinson admitted his signature at tlie bottom of : the circular. Witness then said : "Waa a meeting held at Foxt^qn at whic)< you and Gavin Stone were present, and tho . same resolution put. to the meeting, which was asked to, affirm it?*' Defendant replied, "That's not true."' Mr Meredith said, the prosecution was based on Clause 3 of the War Regulations Act. The letter gave, expression to a seditious intention. „.,,..,. . Mr Cooper siibmitte/i that , the piiosecntion had failed. Detective-Sergeant Quirke did not have tlie letter delivered to him, and .had not proved that the letter was delivered to anybody, so tliat it had . not been published. Mr Meredith submitted that the mere intention m writing was sufficient. It was not always possible to prove publication. The Magistrate said there waa no evidence that Robinson published the circular. Mr Cooper said defendant was a paid servant of a union. It was not sug--gested m the evidence that he visited any place with the. idea of getting .signatures. The objection of the union was to the clauses bringing m compulsory service qn men irrespective df conscientious objectors. Robinson "might object to the Act sentiments. Putting, signatures to such a resolution was not sedition. The sti-iJcie suggested a mere show of iobjection to compulsion. Mr Meredith, m reply, said a strike, would entail monetary loss to the . flaxmiljers. It was a, threat to cause industrial phaos. ,If Parliament wei'e liable to be threatened m this way, . members of .Parliament would have to take into consideration threats on the part of the community. The Magistrate reserved his decision.