ALLEGED SEDITION.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14293, 23 December 1916, Page 7

ALLEGED SEDITION.

CHARGES AGAINST FRASER AND

BRINDLE,

[United Phess Association.]

■ Wellington, Dec. 22. In the Magistrate's Court to-day the Crown proceeded with the charges of sedition against Peter Fraser and Thomas'Brindle, two prominent So-' cialists. -.'The. .Court, was crowded, . and Mr Riddell, S.M., presided. - Both accused pleaded not guilty, and conducted their own defence. .■" * Evidence for the Crown was of ? formal nature. The accused men addressed the Court at considerable length, daiming that their speeches were perfectly justified under section 108 of the Crimes Act which states that it is not unlawful to attempt to. procure the correction oi errors and defects' of the Constitution, so long as lawful means are adopted They thought the repeal of the Military Service Act was in the interests of the community, because it had aroused feelings of hatred. Both claimed that theii speeches contained statements of fact only, and as such could not be regarded as seditious. > ■ The Magistrate said he would, r-ead .through the whole of the speeches, anc give his decision to-morrow. Mr P. J. O'Regan appeared for Eraser and Brindle when they were first before the Court on the above charges. but withdrew from the cases when the presiding justices of the peace refused bail.