THE NEW GUARD

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 January 1932, Page 5

THE NEW GUARD

“INSULT" CASE

LANG FAILS TO APPEAR. Press Association Electric Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, Friday. When the case in which Colonel Eric Campbell, leader of the New Guard is charged with using words in a speech insulting to the New South Wales Government, was continued to-day, neither the Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, nor Mr. Goode, head of the Transport Board, attended the court in response to the subpoenas requiring their attendance. Mr. Slceman, Government publicity officer, who also was subpoenaed, vas present. Detective-Sergeant Watkins, resuming his said his report, of Campbell’s speech to the Police Chief contained no statement that he personally had been insulted by anything Campbell had said. Witness admitted that he had prepared a report for the Government concerning the New Guard’s objects and activities, aud this was of a most favourable character.

Other police evidence corroborated that of Sergeant Lendrum, police shorthand writer, who took notes during Campbell’s address in which the words complained of were used. The evidence for the prosecution closed late in the afternoon, and legal argument followed. Mr. Laidlaw, the magistrate, ruled that the information was not as bad as was claimed by the counsel for the defence, inasmuch as it did not allege that the words complained of were insulting to any particular person. The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday.