NOEL LYONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 4 July 1925, Page 3

NOEL LYONS.

SENT TO GAOL. The hearing of the charge against Noel Lyons, 'the young Australian j seaman, of failing ro obey an order of deportation issued 'by the AttorncyI General on May 26th on the ground that he was “likely to be a source of danger to the peace, order and good government of New Zealand,” was heard by Mr. €. R. Orr-Walker, S.M., at Wellington yesterday. The prisoner pleaded guilty. Mr. Macassev, describing the circumstances of the case, aid Lyons had come aboard the Manuka, at Melbourne and at the Bluff the town was placarded with I.W.W. posters. Counsel described also the “ham and eggs” incident on board the Manuka, attributed to the agitation of the accused. As a result the boat was laid up. The accused then proposed to leave for Melbourne by the Moeraki. Lyons urged the. men to follow the example of the Manuka’s crew. The crew elected to follow the advice of their secretary, Mr. Young, against whom the defendant said that the union secretary was getting £8 a week and not living in the forecastle. Accused declined the offer of a free passage to Sydney with sec-ing-class accommodation and a secondclass rail wav fare to Melbourne.

This* man was not a New Zealander, said counsel, he was an agitator of the worst type who had set the law at deliberate defiance. A fine would be out of the question. Accused, on his own behalf, said that he thought his proposed deportation had nothing to do with the Manuka. lie was just going to be tried for not leaving the country.

.Mr. Macassev: That is all it is. It is for deliberately flouting the law. His Worship: I am not concerned with the reasons for making the order. I am here to carry out the law. Are you prepared to comply with the order? „

Accused: No; I am not. His Worship: After mature consideration? Accused: Yes. I have three reasons. I have a job in Wcllingt n, and I am working at it. "In the second place, I have fought for demo racy and I do not think this is democracy to get bundled out of this country for doing nothing whatsoever. (Applause in Court.)

His Worship: This is not a show; this is a Court. If the police can pick out anyone offending, 1. shall inflict punishment.

The accused: My third and most important reason is that 1 am a member of the working-class, and this is the law of the country to be applied to any working man who happens to be unfortunate to have come to this country with his hat on, so to speak. For that reason I am not going to deport myself out of the country. I think ii will point out to the working class of this country and let them know what kind of laws they have got in this country. I suppose lam making a test of my case and becoming a martyr to bring the effect of this law to light and to Laye something done to have it wiped off the Statute Book. That is mv reason.

“It is a law which has been made by'the Legislature,” commented his Worship. “I represent that law, and 1 must carry out the law. I cannot consider any 'one of the three reasons as an excuse for refusing to comply with the order, which is legally and lawfully made. You have appeared to make up your mind to flout the order which is the working of the law. No Court can s’tand for that sort of thing. I have one duty to perform. You know what the consequences are. Aro you prepared to use an opportunity if given to you now?

Lyons: I considered it long ago

The Magistrate: Very good. You will be convicted and sentenced to nine months’, imprisonment with hard labour.