ALLEGED INFLAMMATORY LITERATURE,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16471, 6 July 1921, Page 2

ALLEGED INFLAMMATORY LITERATURE,

AN AUCKLAND PROSECUTION. (Per Preps Association). AUCKLAND. July 5. A charge of having sold a pamphlet, “ Inside Soviet Russia.” which encouraged or incited to violence and lawlessness, was brought against John Douglas Robertson before Mr Boynton, S.M. .Mr Meredith, for the prosecution, said that the pamphlet was sold to a constable in plain clothes at defendant’s house. The book purported to be an account of what happened in Russia by a, Krench member of the Allied Military Commission that visited Russia. The author was a frank admirer of Bolshevism, and claimed that what Bolshevism did for Russia it would do for the rest of the world. He bitterly attacked the Allies’ policy towards Bolshevism, and proceeded to general comments which supported an international revolution. The book practically supported a violent revolution, or “ violent tactics honourably undertaken, as undertaken bv the Bolsheviks.” ’.Mr Sullivan, for the defence, submitted that there should have been evidence of persons having been actually incited io violence bv the pamphlet. “evicleuco of these weak-minded people who are said to he in the community.'’ Counsel submitted that the pamphlet came through the Customs Department, and after having been held up for a time was passed. Defendant gave evidence. He admitted that he sold the pamphlet. He had read it ill oarts he said, because of the information it contained about the Soviet Government. He had published the newspaper “ Commonwealth ” up to March last. He was secretary of the International Socialist Club, and the newspaper he had published was largely extracts oil Socialism. Mr Meredith stated that at the time the Customs had no power to stop such literature. Decision was reserved.