“Misery Week”

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7027, 10 December 1932, Page 7

“Misery Week”

UNEMPLOYED DEMONSTRATION. SIX MEN CHAEGED Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 9. Charges were proceeded with to-day against six men arrested in connection with the attempted march on Parliament last Saturday. All pleaded not guilty on all counts against them. Mr Hurley, who appeared for the four accused, intimated that ho would submit legal argument at the conclusion of tho cases to show that there had been no actual procession and that the defendants therefore could not be charged with taking part in an unauthorised procession. Detective-Sergeant Tricklebank said that on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the police went round the relief works and warned the men that the demonstration would not be allowed. Notwithstanding this a crowd assembled in Cambridge Terrace. It was broken up by the police but some of the moil persisted in marching through the streets.

The accused were: John Lightfoot, 55, labourer, charged with being a roguo and vagabond in that he was found armed with an offensive weapon, a baton, with felonious intent; Boy Evans, 27, labourer, charged with wilfully obstructing Detective-Sergeant Tricklebank in the execution of his duty and inciting John James Porter to resist Tricklebank; John James Porter, 27, seaman; William Herman Gladwin, 2G, seaman; Charles Thomas Holden, 56, seaman; William Benjamin Arthu Wilkinson, 36, labourer, each charged with behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place and taking part in an unauthorised procession. The police evidence against Holden was that lie was one of the leaders and carried an effigy of a skeleton, on which was inscribed “The Unemployed Queen —Misery Week.’' The cases against both Porter and Wilkinson were dismissed by Mr. Page, who remarked that tho evidence showed that there was no disorderly behaviour at any stage of the proceedings or that accused took part in the procession. Gladwin and Holden were each fined £2 for taking part in an unauthorised procession, the charges of disorderly behaviour being dismissed. The charges against Boy Evans for wilfully obstructing Detective-Sergt. Tricklebank in the execution of his duty and inciting Porter to resist Detective Tricklebank. were dismissed.

Where tho work is quiet and automat. gramophone or wireless music and talks aro stated to increase production by occupying the minds of the workers and keeping them interested.