CASE DISMISSED

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22133, 29 November 1941, Page 8

CASE DISMISSED

Charge Of Contempt Of Court Defendant Offers Apology (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 28. Lincoln Arthur Winstone Efford, who was charged yesterday that he committed wilful contempt in the face of the Magistrate’s Court, that not being an authorised person, he did take down reports in writing, which included notes of the Magistrate's remarks, with comments thereon, appeared again this morning, before Mr A. A. McLachlan, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty. After hearing the evidence, Efford tendered an apology and the charge was dismissed.

Efford, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded not guilty. He said he had not sufficient information to get legal advice. Replying to Efford, the Magistrate said: “You are charged with contempt of Court. You do not seem to understand the gravity of the offence. You do not seem to realise that the social security of the country is In the balance. That is being decided in Libya and Moscow and other places. You are accepting British shelter when your country is in danger. You are like Nero, fiddling while Rome burns. While your country is fighting for its very existence you come to Court taking one-sided notes of these cases.” Efford: I would consider reparation to you if I were advised of what was in my notes and what the comment consisted of. The Magistrate: The contempt consists of taking notes without permission. Efford: I suggest that the charge is incorrect. One-sided Report The Magistrate: The charges were made under the jurisdiction of the Court. You do not seem to understand that yours is a one-sided report which definitely misrepresents the position. Efford said he understood he was in court on one charge only. He had been in court before but had never taken notes before. He would have taken notes Innocently before if he had wanted to. He said the only comment was one word and therefore the charge was not correct. The Magistrate: How many times have you been in here when alleged conscientious objectors have been in court?

Efford: Four or five times. I have the right to come to court as a member of the public. My behaviour in court has been courteous and everything it should be.

The Magistrate: Holding the views you do you should be in Japan or somewhere.

Efford: There are people there who believed the same as I do. I have to do my duty in the country in which I live.

The Magistrate: There is one place you should be. Teacher Without Pupils

The Magistrate said that Efford was not taking notes to brush up his education but was wilfully out to defeat the war effort. In answer to the Magistrate, Efford said he was a school teacher, but had no pupils.

Detective Parrish said that Efford was known 'as a member of Pacifist Societies. He was chairman of the Fellowship of Conscientious Objectors and was connected with the Peace Pledge Union, and on the outbreak of war was connected with the No More War Movement. Efford was an active member of the ant V-conscription campaign and was on an invalidity pension. When searched no subversive matter was found in his possession.

Efford in evidence said he was not sure why he took notes, but as a member of the public he felt it his duty to do so. He added that after the war history would have to be written. “As a man under suspicion of subversive acts you should definitely not be allowed to take notes,” said the Magistrate, who, on receiving the apology from Efford dismissed the case.

“Please try and show your pacifist designs in a less patent way in future,” added the Magistrate. “Take a trip to Japan or Berlin.”