OFFENDERS IN THE RIOTS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1932, Page 9

OFFENDERS IN THE RIOTS

SENTENCES TO CONTINUE NO SHORTENING AT PRESENT. OFFICIAL ATTITUDE STATED. “I want to say plainly that I cannot take any action-in the dii'ection of shortening these sentences at present,” said the-Minister of Justice, tne Hou. J. G. Cobbe, recently, in replying to a Labour Party deputation which asked that the sentences imposed on persons who were connected with the riots earlier in the year should be reviewed. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. £. Holland, said he supposed that naturally the sentences were harsh, because they were imposed almost immediately following the events. He referred to individual cases, particularly that of James Edwards, and said that in the first trial, when the jury dis-

agreed, Edwards’ counsel had stood aside six men an d the Crown Prosecutor had stood aside 12. The jury was •largely a business men’s jury, in the second trial, about 60 men were called upon before the jury was empanelled. RIGHTS OF THE CROWN. Mr. Holland protested against the Grown having an unlimited right of challenge, while accused’s right of challenge was limited, and he contended that the Crown should not have the opportunity of “packing” a jury. Mr. Holland reviewed individual cases arising out of the Auckland riot and ' said that some of the men might have been caught ,in the high tide of the procession. He was not referring to those who had committed criminal offences, He knew some effort was being made to keep those prisoners separate from others;'and that was appreciated as tar as .'it went. “We would ask that the whole of these cases should be re- • viewed,” ■he said,. “and .that the sentences he either substantially- reduced or else that the men be set free.” ■Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., supported Mr. Holland’s request and pointed out that when the men were in prison, their dependants were a. charge on the local ratepayers. “It seems to be a curious way of inflicting punishment,” he said. ■ POSSESSION OF LITERATURE. ; Mr. E. J. Howard, M.P., referred to the case of a man convicted for having certain literature in his possession. “If the police searched my house they would find a lot worse,” he said. ■'/ Mr. F. Langstone, M.P;, contended it was • persecution to keep the men in gaol. Replying, the Minister said that the eases, had been put fairly, but there were one or two things which differed from the official reports. No Department of Justice would agree with “packing” a jury. He was loath to believe that such a thing could occur in New Zealand. A jury was sworn to do what was right arid the Crown had the right of unlimited challengers. Mr. Fraser: It was abused in Edwards’ case. Mr.-.Cobbe referred to evidence tending, to rebut the contention that the Auckland disturbance’was not premeditated, and referred to missiles and wea-, pons found. - ' ; Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P.: Mainly picked up round the hall.. Mr. Fraser: Not a very serious armoury. Mr. Oobbe: There were, some pieces of iron and steel.

air. W. J. Jordan, M.P.: You could not blame everybody in the crowd because these weapons' were in the crowd.

POSITION OF AUTHORITIES.

Dealing with Mr. Howard’s complaint, Mr. Cobbe agreed that a good deal of the literature was not very harmful,- but

on the other hand, there was litera- * ture from overseas countries calculated to do harm to unthinking -people. “What could be-said of the authorities if they did not - take action?” he asked. “I don’t think persecution is the right term to use. < The authorities have to maintain law and order.” The sentences varied from two months to two years, said Mr. Cobbe. As Minister of' ; Justice/he was abound to gee that the law was carried out. He had no option in the matter. It would be a very serious matter for any .Gov-. ernmenfe or. Minister of Justice-to interfere with the Law Courts, Sentences were being reviewed by the Prisons Board .this week and if any good reason was ‘ shown for the remisison of a sentence, that-would be done. Besides having been responsible for damage here, the outbreaks had harmed the country’s reputation overseas, and no Government that was doing its duty could tolerate that sort of thing. Mr. Savage: We don’t suggest that the Government should not have done pomething. A PLAIH STATEMENT. want to say plainly that I, as Minister of Justice, cannot take any action in the direction of shortening those sentences at present,” said Mr. Cobbe. Mr. Fraser: Every Government does St with political prisoners. "Mr. Cobbe said he did not think it was reasonable to use the term “political.” He did not think that any political party would care to associate itself with the actions of a good many of those people. Mr. Fraser said he would gladly associate himself with some of the men. Mr. Cobbe said that it would have a frery bad effect if any member of the Government attempted to interfere with the sentences further than to have the matter referred to the Prisons Board. The Minister referred to the recent bomb episodes at Gerymouth against the new inspector of police. “The man inactive and he started preventing certain offences,” he said. “Tlie result is that a bomb was thrown on his house.”