CAPTAIN KNYVETT INQUIRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2691, 22 December 1909, Page 5

CAPTAIN KNYVETT INQUIRY.

COMMENCED IN AUCKLAND.

1 Pint Pii ess Association.! AUCKLAND, Dec. 21. The Court of Inquiry into charges against Captain Knyvett, officer commanding No. 1 Company of the Garrison Artillery, has commenced. The Court consists of Colonel Chaytor (WeL lington), Major Sandtmann (Wellington), and Captain Bosworth -(Auckland). Captain Knyvett was charged with forwarding a letter to the Minister of Defence criticising Colonel Robin. The inquiry was open to the press., The whole morning was occupied in _ dealing with objections raised by Captain Knyvett regarding the nature of the chaiges, and under what law the charges were investigated. held proceedings under section 54 and section 180 of the New Zealand Defence Regulations, relating to insubordination. Captain Knyvett was at the opening of the proceedings in consultation with a brother officer, who is also a solicitor. Thi s was disallowed b v the Court. Being asked to plead. Captain Knyvett said he admitted sending the letter, hut denied that it was an act to prejudice good order or military discipline. He submitted that every officer had a right to appeal on military matters if he sent the appeal through the proper channel, as lie had done in this case. Captain Knyvett contended that under section 17S of the defence regulations any member of the defence forces had a right to appeal, and he claimed that the letter he had addressed to the Minister of Defence, which had led to the present inquiry, came within its terms, and as such was privileged. The Court ruled against him.^ Captain Knyvett then asked for an expression of opinion from the Court as to his right to send the letter inf question. The president: We admit tnat yon had a right to send the letter, and to make a complaint. You did not break the regulations by sending the letter, but the charge is that in that letter you sent you made certain statements winch were a breach of the regulations. Captain Knyvett reviewed the charges against him, characterising them as absurd and meaningless. Regarding the charge that he had accused Colonel Robin of unwarranted officialism, he held that such an assertion about an officer who was doing his duty was in reality a flattering one. He intimated 1 that he had forty witnesses to call.

The inquiry was adjourned till tomorrow.