CHARGE OF VAGRANCY DENIED

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1932, Page 5

CHARGE OF VAGRANCY DENIED

EX-COMMUNIST HAS £1 A WEEK.

“BARRED FROM WORK IN CAMPS.”

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Wellington, Last Night.

Phillip Gordon Brazier, an ex-member of the Communist Party, pleaded not guilty to a charge of vagrancy before Mr. E. Page, SAI., at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, on the ground that he had a private income of £1 a week from overseas. He was remanded until Tuesday. Detective-Sergeant Revell said Brazier was an agitator of an extreme type. “I have heard him saying -when he was speaking at Communist open-air meetings that he would not work under the present conditions. He describes the camps as slave camps and does his utmost to prevent others from going to these camps.” Brazier had received a sentence of two months’ imprisonment on November 24 for inciting lawlessness and since his release from gaol had been convicted for drunkenness.

Counsel for Brazier said he had evidence to show Brazier was in receipt of money from abroad and had paid his board. Brazier was not now a member of the Communist Party and had not taken part in any Communist movement since his release from prison. Brazier stated he was a stud groom by trade but had taken on labouring in New Zealand. Since his release from gaol he had been trying to obtain labouring work but had nou been successful. °While in gaol he had written to his’parents and explained the position in New Zealand. They had sent him money and undertaken to send him money each week. Detective-Sergeant Revell: Is it not a fact that you will not go to camps and work ? Brazier: It is a fact I am barred from camp because I am in receipt of private income. Mr. Page said he would take time to consider the case and would remand Brazier until Tuesday.