AGAINST WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20483, 8 December 1934, Page 27 (Supplement)

AGAINST WAR.

Activities of Kisch and Griffin. appeals against sentences. (Special to the “ Star.*’) SYDNEY, December 1. Last Friday Herr Kisch came before the Court on two charges, that he was a “ prohibited immigrant ” in terms of the Government proclamation, and that he had failed to pass the required test in a foreign language, as applied by the officials. Mr Piddington, K.C., who appeared for Kisch, protested first that the two charges could not be brought concurrently, but was overruled by the Magistrate. Mr Piddington then tried to show that Gaelic, the “ foreign tongue ” which Herr Kisch was asked to translate, is not a living language within the meaning of the Act and that the officer who had administered the test could not read or understand it himself. Argument in Court. A good deal of time was wasted in altercations between Mr Piddington and Mr Watt, K.C., who appeared for the Customs Department, w’hich controls immigration; and they soon worked up a nice little quarrel between them. But Mr Gibson, the presiding Magistrate, was not to be diverted from the main point at issue, and in the end he announced that he was satisfied that Kisch is amenable to the law as a “ prohibited immigrant,” and therefore sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment.

Bail was allowed and was fixed at £2OO. This -was speedily forthcoming and, as Mr Piddington announced that he would appeal against the conviction. Kisch is practically at liberty to do what he pleases for the time, within the limits of the law.

Speaking at North Shore next day, he declared that he was “ glad to suffer ” if the treatment he receives has the effect of arousing public feeling in favour of pacifism. Public Sympathy.

The Federal authorities have been acting all along on the assumption that their information is correct and that Kisch is closely associated with the Anti-War Movement devised by the Communists to serve their own ends. But there is no doubt that, even allowing for this there is a certain amount of public sympathy felt here for Kisch.

The foreign language test is at best a childish expedient and the “ Telegraph ” struck a happy vein of humour when it suggested that Herr Kisch might adopt one of the best of all English satires to his own sad case: “Now mark what ills the scholar’s life assail— Toil, envy, want, dictation and the Gael.”

Also there was a great deal of force in Mr Piddington’s appeal to the Magistrate not to brand Kisch with “ the ghastly stain of imprisonment.” It is some consolation to know that, if the appeal fails, this misguided person will not suffer any severe form of punishment. If he goes to Long Bay, he will be placed in hospital under medical care, with nurses and other trained attendants with special food and the use of a fine library. The patient may smoke, visitors are allowed, and may bring him books and other gifts; in fact, a man under such circumstances may find the time pass pleasantly enough. But it is easy to understand, the repugnance which this accomplished foreigner feels at such a prospect. On the other hand Ministers appear to be determined that, unless the judgment is reversed by the Appeal Court. Kisch must suffer at least portion of his sentence, for they look upon him as a “ bad case ” of the prohibited immigrant, and his obstinate determination to carry out his mission, and the amount of trouble that he has caused, have certainly not prejudiced them in his favour. Griffin Gets Back. Meantime. Herr Kisch’s “ comrade,” Gerald Griffin, of New Zealand, has been causing Canberra a good deal of perturbation. Having been deported as an “ undesirable ” a few weeks ago, he got over the difficulty by shipping himself back to Sydney and walking ashore as soon as he arrived, when the Customs officials were looking another way. Since then he has been moving rapidly from place to place, delivering addresses and giving interviews at various points in Victoria and New South Wales and congratulating himself quite frankly on his own skill in eluding the police. At the end of last week he announced that “his work was done;” that is, he flattered himself that had aroused the conscience of Australia to a horror of war, and that he would make a final appearance in the Sydney Domain on Sunday. Sure enough, at the appointed time and place, Griffin duly appeared. He was announced from the platform as Comrade King but shortly revealed his identity and in a few rapidly spoken words warned his hearers of the menace of coming war. and assured them that “ the British Government is spending £3OO a minute ” in preparation for it. He then stepped down from the platform into the arms of the police. Scuffle in Domain. Griffin made no attempt to escape from the five plain-clothes men who surrounded him. But there was a crowd of 5000 round the platform and many of them sympathised. “ Come on, Comrades,” shouted one and a number made a rush at the detectives. In the struggle one of the officers was knocked down and kicked in the mouth and after some difficulty three men and a youth arrested and carried off to be charged with assaulting the police in the execution of their duty. The crowd had become greatly excited, and some of the bystanders hurled imprecations at the police and attempted to raise the Internationale. Griffin gave no trouble there, and he conducted himself with due propriety when brought before the court on Monday. He was charged with being a prohibited immigrant and also with failing to translate a foreign language —a passage in Dutch having already been submitted to him. He refused to plead, protesting . against the proceedings on the advice | of his solicitor, and was remanded on bail. lie seems to have occupied his 1 spare time during the week with Kisch in delivering addresses at various suburban centres, and when he came up for trial to-day he was sent need, like Kisch, to six months’ imprison ment. Of course, an appeal was lodged, , and he is once more out on bail.

It should be understood that the term of six months was suggested in quite an arbitrary way as providing a period within which the authorities can arrange for the deportation of these two undesirables. But though the authorities are anxious to see the last of them, and insist that the sentence of imprisonment is not “ vindictive,” it is likely that some portion of the sentence will be enforced as fit punishment for the “ contumacy ” that they have displayed and the trouble that they have given. While the fate of Kisch and Griffin lies still in the balance, people here are wondering if New Zealand will allow our Senator Rae and Mr Nugent to land in that country as delegates to the Anti-War Conference shortly to be held there.

Mr W. H. Nugent, National Organiser in Australia of the Movement Against War and Fascism, and Senator Rae, of New South Wales, a prominent member of the Movement arrived at Wellington by the Marama. They were allowed to land and were not required to pass any tests.