A VOLUNTEER “ARREST.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2679, 8 December 1909, Page 7

A VOLUNTEER “ARREST.”

CAPTAIJS ICNYVETT SUSPENDED'.

A sensation was caused in Auckland volunteer circles when it became known that Captain F. B. Ivnyvett. officer commanding No. 1 Company Auckland Division Garrison Artillery Volunteers, had been, placed under “arrest” for alleged insubordination in criticising the administration of tho Defence Department'and also in bringing a charge against his superior officer couched in insubordinate language. The “arrest” is in accordance with military usage, and does not mean that restraint is placed on the movements of the officer, lie being merely under suspension until such time as the court of inquiry sits. The alleged insubordination has arisen out of and is the culmination of the visit made to Wellington on October 30 by Captain Ivnyvett. two officers, and 6a men of his company, at the invitation of the officer commanding the Petone Navals. The visit was made in order that the Auckland men might benefit in efficiency by the knowledge gained at this camp. The failure of the visit caused considerable comment at the time, the Auckland men arriving at Wellington and finding no one at the station to meet ‘them. ■ . The actual cause of Captain Ivnyvett’s suspension is said to be due to a letter which ho sent to the Defence Minister. This letter refers to the efforts made by the officers of the Petone Navals and Captain Knyvett’s own company to cover up and prevent any possibility of a scandal leaking out to the public of the alleged “want of tact and the interference of the chief of the general staff, Colonel ltobin.” The letter goes on to refer to the astonishment of the officers on the Monday following, when an article appeared in the “Dominion” stating that No. 1 Company by coming to W ellington had committed a very grave breach of oiscipline, and burlesqued the whole volunteering force throughout tho Dominion. Captain Knyvett’s letter says that lie is prepared to submit an affidavit from three officers who were present at a certain interview in the “Dominion” office as to his authority for saying the matter was supplied by Colonel Robin. The letter continues: “The result of tlii s article in -the “Dominion” has been that the volunteer movement, and my corps in particular (which the largest without question in the whole of New Zealand), have been belittled and burlesqued to an astounding extent. Article after article lias appeared in. the Wellington papers, and interview after interview has been accorded by the chief of the general staff, and the statements made by him in these interviews I am prepared to prove are entirely wrong. In addition, it seems to me that tliecliier of general staff has personally gone out of his way to belittle, discourage, and damp the enthusiasm of the whole volunteering movement. Since these •articles have appeared I have been approached by many officers throughout the whole of. the North Island, who have had similar experiences of th© unwarranted interference and unexampled officialism of Colonel Robin. Not only have volunteers themselves been subject to his interference, hut many prominent force officers have told me (which I am prepared to prove at an inquiry) that he has many times had private interviews with persons, from privates to colonels, to the undoubted disadvantage of the discipline of the forces throughout the Dominion. Further in tho duties laid down for the Defence Council I find the duties for the chief of general staff are: Field organisation, military operations, staff duties, military intelligence, mobilisation, and war regulations. No mention of any kind is made in this to th© duties of discipline. If any member. of the Defence Council had any complaint to make about the action of myself and the corps it was Colonel Tuson, A.A.G. I respectfully submit that at no time have my officers or myself committed the smallest breach of the regulations. I have been under provocation giving to the many articles which have appeared in the “Dominion” from the pen of Colonel Robin, but I have withheld writing to th© press, well knowing 1 should obtain from you justice. 1 have documents in my possession which, if published, would have created a grave scandal in volunteering throughout the whole Dominion. I most respectfully ask for an official inquiry into the conduct of the head of the Defence Department Colonel Robin, an officer who lias a private channel of communication with an Opposition paper (the “Dominion”) in Wellington, and gives articles and information of a nature calculated to bo contrary to the best traditions and interest of the service. Captain Kny vett, when asked by a “Herald” representative yesterday if ho had anything to say for publication, said that it was quite'correct that lie was under “arrest.” He, however, did not wish to say anything for publication. He had not, although suffering from great provocation, . granted any interviews during the trying week m Wellington. His conduct on that occasion had been the subject of an enciuiry, and he was exonerated. The procedure' in connection with charges of this .nature is that officers are . arraigned before the officer commanding the Auckland military district for a preliminary inquiry, and it the charges are considered of a grave, character a general court of inquiry is held The penalties, should a charge be proved, range from, censure to loss of seniority, or even dismissal from the service.