THE KNYVETT CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2714, 20 January 1910, Page 3

THE KNYVETT CASE.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER

fI 1 lilt Pit ESN ASSOCIATION. J WELLINGTON, Jan. 19. A deputation consisting of Messrs J. S. Dixon, 0. Nicholson, Gerald Peacocke and W. B, Ley land waited upon the Prime Minister to-day l ini connection with Capt. Knyvett’s dismissal. The deputation went exhaustively into the matters relating to the. case, some of their principal points being that Colonel Robin went out of his way to interfere in Captain Knyvett’s trip to Wellington in connection with the Petonc Naval’s, encampment; that he had no business to give information to the newspapers about the matter; that Capt. Knyvott had asked that the evidence at the recent inquiry should be ta'ken down and signed by the various witnesses, but this was not done. Their contention was that the treatment meted out was too drastic, that the proceedings of the Court were irregular, that on these grounds the case should be quashed and a. new inquiry instituted, Capt. Knvyett being given a better opportunity to defend himself. They stated that if a new inquiry was grant, ed Capt. Ivnyvett. would be prepared to take any consequonccs that might arise and that a. strong sentiment existed in Auckland amongst the public who had no personal interest in Captain Knyvett, as they felt he had a just grievance.

The Premier said lie was very pleased to have an opportunity of going into this matter. He then proceeded to deal exhaustively with the case. He considered that the conduct of Capt. Knyvett was not justifiable and was in direct contravention of the. rules of the Defence Department. Hostilities d'id not commence in the present case, but he believed they originated through Capt. Knyvett not being promoted to the rank of major. He pointed out that others had been in the service longer than Capt. Knyvett who had not been promoted and, when allowing for extra service in Africa, Capt. Knyvett was not entitled to promotion. Further, an officer should not take advantage of a technicality for promotion. Ho pointed out the position the chief executive officer would be in if be recommended a man for promotion over the heads of others who had served for years longer. 'The Premier out. lined the start of the present trouble, and contended that Captain Knyvett had committed a breach of discipline in travelling without passes on the occasion of the visit of his corps to Wellington. The Premier explained that application for permission to visit Wellington on that occasion had not been received in reasonable time. Further, that passes would not have been granted without permission of the- Minister of Defence. To give passes would have been establishing a precedent in volunteering in New Zealand. Passes are refused to every volunteering company in New Zealand outside a. limited area. In regard to Colonel Robin disclosing information to the papers, he had a perfect right to give the interviews ho did to the “Dominion.” He denied Colonel Robin had in any way interfered in the matter, and he wished it clearly understood that Colonel Robin had been unfairly dealt with. An opportunity had been given to Captain Knyvett to couch his letter in more gentlemanly language, which he refused to do. The humblest “ranker” had a perfect right to report any superior, but the Defence Department would not tolerate insulting communications. The Adjutant-General bad been perfectly within his rights in ordering Captain Knyvett’s arrest. The Cabinet had ordered the Court of Inquiry, Colonel Robin having nothing to do with it. Capt. Knyvett had been asked whether he had any objection' to the personnel of the. Board at the time, and had- stated that he had not. It was stated that there- was an objection to a foreigner sitting on that Court of Inquiry. Str Joseph Ward pointed out that the officer in question had been a naturalised British subject for sixteen years, and was a capable officer. It was Capt. Knvvett’s duty to report his charges and they would have been investigated. Ay a matter of fact he never has reported them up to now. If an officer was allowed to make gene, ral reflections against his su]>erior officer they might just as well have no Defence Department. Mr Wilford introduced the point that no proper record of the evidence was taken at the inquiry and that the Ad-jutant-General was, therefore, not in a- position to judge fairly of the ease on its merits. Mr Wilford produced a full shorthand report taken by an Auckland reporter. Sir Joseph Ward replied that that was a very important matter, as he had only judged the matter on the evidence before him. He would call upon the Board for a, statement and a. full report would be obtained. He would also bring it before the Adjutant General, and on receipt of a report would give the representations the fullest consideration. He had no sympathy with, the proposal for a Royal Commission to inquire into defence matters. If commissions were set up over every trivial matter they would never know where they would end. Pie did not believe that there was any unrest in defence matters general- 5 ly. No other steps than those taken could have been taken, and they were strictly in accordance with the law.