ALLEGED SEDITION

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13474, 3 May 1917, Page 4

ALLEGED SEDITION

CONVICTION QUASHED.

NO SEDITIOUS INTENT.

AUCKLAND, Thursday. Mr Justice Sim allowed the appeal by Oliver Noakes against his conviction and sentence to eleven months' im- *t pnaonment on a charge of making an W utterance intended to interfere with un- W loading of the steamer Westralia. His ±lonor expressed the opinion that the remarks in question were spoken without tn« intention of influencing the conduct oi another waterside worker, but merely expressed disapproval of his conduct in connection, with the hour of engagement. The information was dismissed. TELEGRAMS TO PRIME MINISTER. THE REPLY RECEIVED. AUCKLAND, Wednesday. The secretaries of unions having offices in'the Trades Hall combined with the Federated Seamen's Union, the waterside workers, and others, yesterday forwarded a joint telegram to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Mines, asking to be informed of the terms of the compact entered into between the Government and the miners in respect to the cases against the latter not being pressed, also when it would be given effect to. It was pointed out in the telegram that one of the Magistrates had said that any compact entered into between the Government and the miners could have no effect upon the administration of the law. Mr Wesley Richards has received the following answer from the Hon. Sir Jas. Allen:—"ln reply to your telegram of yesterday the Government considered the question of the matter of the men sentenced yesterday in Auckland. The Government has carried out to the full its obligation, but in order to remove any doubt in the minds of the miners and workers generally, or the public, it has decided to recommend his Excellency to remit the sentences upon the men in question." TWO ARRESTS AT RUNANGA. (By Telegraph—Press Association. GRETMOUTH, Wednesday. P. O'Rorke and James O'Brien were arrested to-day at Runanga. The arrest is believed to be in connection with speeches made during the municipal campaign, when both men spoke as members deputed to place the coal miners' position in regard to the eonScription strike before the Labour party's meeting in Greymouth. Mr P. C. Webb, who was arrested in Wellington, addressed the same meeting.

CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. In the Police Court to-day William James Clegg was charged with making seditious utterances in a restaurant in respect of German submarines. The magistrate held the evidence to be inconclusive and dismissed the case.P. C. WEBB, M.P., IN COUKt. TEXT OF THE CHARGES. (By Telegraph—Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday. Charged with having made seditious utterances, P. C. Webb, member for Grey, appeared before Mr Bailey, S.M., at the Court * yes*«r--day. Mr Raymond, K.C., represented the Crown. The accused was not represented by counsel. The first charge was that on February 22, at Taylorville, he published the following seditious language:—"Now that the Government are taking men by force, I say it is up to the men and women to rise and say to the Government, 'You will not take -one man. If we allow this Government ,to take men by force, we are guilty ourselves of the crime committed by the Government.' ". It is alleged that this utterance was seditious, and had a tendency to interfere with effective conduct of the military preparations of His Majesty, and to encourage opposition to the enforcement of the Military Service Act.

The second charge relates to a speech made on April 19, at Greymoutn, in which it is alleged the following was •aid:—-"The miner is fighting against conscription, and would go to gaol rather than shirk what they feel to be their duty to the country. That is their sentiment the present time. They are not fignting for themselves alone. They are fighting for thousands of people who are not able to fight for themselves, and when the true history of the part played by the miners during this great struggle is written, I am certain of this, tuat the miner will stand out in letters of gold, as compared with any other section of the community." Both charges were laid under clause 1 of the War Regulations, published on December 4, 1916. Accused was remanded till Friday. Webb asked for bail, and also that the case should be heard either at Grevmouth or Wellington, but both applications were refused.

The Magistrate stated that accused would be given every facility to prepare his defence, and if any difficulty was experienced in getting his witnesses at Christ :hurch, he could make a further application for an adjournment. CHRISTCHUHCH. Thursday. At the Police Court James O'Brien and Peter O'Rorke were charged with* breach of the War Regulations at Greymouth by publishing seditious utterances m speeches which referred to conscription. Bo;n i leaded not guilty, and were remanded till to-morrow. O'Rorke asked for a change of venue to Grevmouth, but this was refused.