IS IT SEDITIOUS?

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17610, 28 October 1931, Page 7

IS IT SEDITIOUS?

AN ELECTION PAMPHLET READ-ADMIRAL’S METHODS LONDON, Oct. 27. The News-Chronicle says that a certain vice-admiral is taking legal opinion as to whether Rear-Admiral X. G. Dewar, who figured in the Royal Oak court-martial in 1928, can lie prosecuted lor sedition uttered in a pamphlet. RearAdmiral Dewar is Socialist candidate for the Poitsmouth seat, where the Conservative, Sir Bertram Falle, had to cancel all election meetings owing! to organised hooliganism.

The pamphlet in question is headed: “Nation Faces Bankers.” It lias pictures of the ex-Kaiser and Mr. Montagu Norman, and is captioned :—“The British Navy at Jutland in 1916 beat the Kaiser; at Invergorden in 1931 it beat Mr. Norman.”

Sir Bertram Falle said the spirit of Bolshevism was abroad in Britain’s premier port and freedom of speech was abolished.

The Conservative agent will ask the Admiralty after tho election if RearAdmiral Dewar is entitled to continue drawing his £950 retired pay if his action is disloyal. Rear-Admiral Dewar admits that the leaillet is in had taste, hut ridicules tho idea of disloyalty or an insult to tho navy, in which lie has spent his life.

■Sir Bertram Fallo is tho sitting member for Portsmouth North, having held tho seat since 1910. At the last election lie secured a- majority of 2877 votes over the Labor candidate.