CARPENTER FOUND GUILTY

Southland Times, Issue 24353, 6 February 1941, Page 8

CARPENTER FOUND GUILTY

CHARGE OF PUBLISHING SUBVERSIVE STATEMENT (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 6. i Charges of publishing subversive statements or of facilitating their publication were preferred in the Supreme Court against Philip Leslie Hardcastle, a carpenter, aged 32. The case was heard by Mr Justice Fair. Mr V. Meredith represented the Crown. The accused was charged with publishing a subversive statement, namely, a paper sticker bearing the words “No more troops for overseas. New Zealand comes first,” further with having in his possession a number of these stickers and finally, with having a certain pamphlet entiled “Forward” with a view to publishing the subversive statements it contained. The accused, who pleaded not guilty, conducted his own defence. The statements read from “Forward” indicated that it was denouncing the war and particularly the Dominion’s part of it. Mr Meredith said that on the night of December 5 the accused and another man were watched by two constables placing these stickers on prominent places in Customs street. The accused, addressing the jury, claimed that the sticker was not against the national interest and said the slogan was merely reasonable criticism. He had three brothers in the armed forces in Britain. He had been rejected for military service. A verdict of guilty was returned after a short retirement.