COMMUNISTS CONVICTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1075, 12 September 1930, Page 1

COMMUNISTS CONVICTED

Prime Minister’s Farewell WHARF BARRIER RUSHED Sequel in S.M.’s Court A VERY loud echo of the departure of the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Prime Minister of New Zealand, for England on August 26 was heard in the Magistrate’s Court today, when three members of the Communist Party were faced with charges of behaving in a disorderly manner on Prince’s Wharf, prior to the sailing of the Aorangi. Much talk of “comrades,” “class distinction” and “persecution” was heard, and the vocal activities of a strong Communistic element in the back of the Court made proceedings so difficult that Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., threatened to clear the Court. The three defendants were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.

The hall was set rolling by the appearance o£ Phillip Gordon Brazier, alias Jock Fraser, a labourer, aged 23, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of being idle and disorderly, with insufficient means of support. According to Detective Moore, Brazier had been doing nothing since last June and had refused a job with a Mount Albert farmer at 25s a week because the wages were not high enough. Brazier had arrived in New Zealand as a stowaway on May 14 and had been seen in the company of vagrants and a convicted thief. For a time he had been getting his meals at Manna House. Brazier interrupted with a number of questions and to talk of his organising work with the “One Big Union of Unemployed.” RUSHED BARRIER Brazier, George Budd and William Murphy, all members of the Communist Party, then pleaded not guilty to behaving in a disorderly manner at Princes Wharf on August 26. Constable Shalcroft said he was on duty at the wharf on the day of the Prime Minister’s departure. There was a crowd at the gangway of the ship and a barrier had been erected between t\vo sheds, admittance to the shed where the Prime Minister was being bidden farewell costing 6d. Witness saw the three accused there behaving in a disorderly manner. Murphy led a large party of them and carried a banner inscribed. “One Big Union of Unemployed and Casual Workers.” Incited by the accused, a crowd rushed the barrier, Murphy, Brazier and others getting through. “Murphy had addressed his followers from a soap-box,” said witness. “However, after some argument, in which 1 told him that he was committing a breach of the harbour regulations, he stopped. He told the others that if they were game he would rush the barrier,” said the constable. “They wanted to see the Prime Minister. When the crowd was called upon to hoot they gave three ‘boos’ for the Prime Minister.” A barrage of questions and statements was then aimed at the witness and magistrate by Brazier and Murphy. Detective Nalder said he saw about 100 unemployed in a crowd on the wharf. He heard Murphy say, “I will go through the gates.” The Harbour Board officials tried to stop a rush on the barrier, but some of the men got through. Budd could not get through, hut incited the rest of the crowd to see the Prime Minister. “Murphy suggested that they should get hold of the crew of the Aorangi and prevent the ship from sailing,” said accused. Mr. Hammond: Were they disorderly?—Very.

After the Aorangi sailed Budd addressed the crowd again. He said something about “seizing the capitalist system,” and something further about “pushing into the Tasman Sea.” “The three of them are Communists,” said witness. “And soap-box orators.” added the chief-detective. Murphy had come out under the Flock House scheme. Brazier had been a stowaway, and Budd had been here three or four years. Budd: Why do you say I don’t work?—Because I see you hanging about the streets. Here, a howl of hoots mingled with laughter, burst out in the back of the Court. “TO SEE FORBES” Budd: We went to see Forbes — “Mister Forbes. You can’t say Forbes here,” said the magistrate. “Very well,” said Budd. “Mr. Forbes, then. Mr. Forbes wouldn’t see us, as his time was filled up in having a bun-fight with the*4ady supporters of the party.” Mr. Hunt: I won’t have such talk in Court. Mr. Hunt said that it was dangerous to the public to attempt to rush the barriers on a wharf. People might' have been pushed into the sea. Murphy, Budd. and Brazier, were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. “I'm not yet finished with Brazier,” said the Magistrate, who proceeded with the idle and disorderly charge. “He does little else but hold meetings and agitate among the unemployed,” said Detective Nalder. “As organiser of the One Big Union of Unemployed and Casual Workers, don't you think I should attend meetings?” asked accused. ‘■They’re all foreigners to New Zealand,” said Chief-Detective Hammond, amid an outburst of hoots and jeers from the back of the court. “Jasper Calder won’t have him in the doss-house.” said the witness. Brazier: Can you prove that the Communist Party is responsible for the demonstrations ? “That’s got nothing to do with it,” said Mr. Hunt. Brazier: Then why is it brought up at all? Brazier then called “Comrade’ Murphy as a witness. “We don't recognise comrades here,” said Chief-Detective Hammond. Murphy said he was idle and was formerly organiser of the union of unemployed. He had worked on the West Coast of the South Island as a coalminer for three years. To Mr. Hammond, he admitted that he had served three months’ imprisonment in Wellington for selling literature. “I’m going to convict you,” Mr. Hunt told Brazier. “You’re welldressed and you’ve been fooling around with soap-boxes. What you want it some honest work. As you've been in i gaol three days you will be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.”