STILL AT LARGE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1934, Page 5

STILL AT LARGE

EVASION BY GRIFFIN SURPRISE APPEARANCE MEETING AT NEWCASTLE CRUSADE AGAINST WAR KISCH ADDRESSES CROWD By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 18. Gerald Griffin, the New Zealander who is believed to have made a forbidden entrance into Australia, unexpectedly appeared at Newcastle at a conference of mine and lodge delegates on Saturday, it is reported. Griffin addressed the meeting for about a quarter of an hour, criticising the Government’s action in preventing Egon Kisch, the Czech author, and himself from landing. The conference passed a motion urging the trade union movement to use its best endeavours to secure freedom of action for both men in their crusade against war. A man described as Gerald Griffin gave an interview to the Sunday Sun after the secret meeting at Newcastle. “I am determined to continue this evasion until such time as I am assured freedom of speech and action are possible in democratic Australia,” he said. “I have no desire to voice my political views. I merely wish to denounce war and Fascism. “My next aim will be to expose the visit to New Zealand of Sir George Pearce and Sir Maurice Hankey. I have so much confidence in my friends here that I am certain I can return to New Zealand without detection. ,My mission here is to place before Australians the views held by a large section of New Zealand people." Clad in pyjamas and overcoat and with his leg heavily bandaged, Kisch was carried into the Central Police Court at Sydney on Saturday and remanded until next Friday on a charge of being a prohibited immigrant. Bail was fixed at £lOO. , , t Three thousand people gathered at an anti-war meeting in the Sydney domain this afternoon and heard Kisch’s brief address from a raised platform . against war and Fascism. A sensational incident occurred when a pacifist, the Rev. A. Rivett, colapsed at the conclusion of a spirited address yuhile exhorting his hear; ers' to keep on fighting. Mr. Rivett died on his way to the Sydney hospital immediately adjoining the domain. Another speaker appealed to the crowd for “silver bullets of the kind required to bide Kisch over his legal troubles, whereupon a shower of money came from the onlookers. Rounds of cheers were given for Kisch and Griffin. . _ During his address Kisch said he brought a message from oppressed German workers, concluding his speech with the Communist salute of the clenched fist above the head. His English was difficult, to follow. \ Mr. Rivett was a former Congregationist minister. He recently conducted a mission. Medical authorities declare that an Xray examination disclosed that Kisch has a -linear or slanting fracture of the shin and that it is necessary he should receive medical attention. Kisch spent the night in a Sydney hospital under a police guard. In his few minutes of freedom between the ship and the Court yesterday Kisch declared that Griffin had visited him in his cabin on the Strathaird. Arrangements have been made for Kisch to® address a public meeting at Sydney on Tuesday night.