CAPTAIN KNYVETT’S CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2737, 16 February 1910, Page 3

CAPTAIN KNYVETT’S CASE.

THE AUCKLAND INDIGNATION

MEETING

' TPer Press Association. I AUCKLAND, Feb. 15. An indignation meeting was held in liis Majesty’s' Theatre last night to protest against the treatment meted out to Captain Knyvett in connection with his recent dismissal from the volunteer service. The meeting, which was presided over by Mr C. J. Parr, was packed to overflowing, and great enthusiasm was displayed. Speeches •were made by Messrs W, F. Massey, C. H. Poole, F. Marnier, A. E. Glover, F. W. Lang, M.P.’s, C>. Peacock, and J. Ku-een, Dr Stopford and Captain Knyvett himself. Mr Massey said he intended to stand by tlie resolutions of the meeting both inside and outside Parliament. ,-He had no intention of .making party- capital out of the Knyvett incident. They had not made party capital out of defence matters in the past, and this would be no exception. Gross injustice had been done to a man who was an exceedingly useful and valuable citizen, and it behoved everyone to stand by him and see that justice was done. He felt so strongly about what had happened to Captain Knyvett that he was prepared to see it through, even if it were necessary to take the matter to the steps of the throne itself. If the new Defence Act was not administered in a commonsense way, then every gaol in the Dominion would have to be enlarged. They wanted an impartial -tribunal to inquire into the charge which had been made' against Captain Knyvett. and they would bo satisfied'with nothing less. Cfiptain Knyvett made a series oi charges against Colonel Robin, alleging general inefficiency and unfitness for the position of chief of general staff; that his instructional lectures wore the laughing stock of all competent officers; that he (the spoalcei J could produce evidence showing that the Premier himself had to dispense with Colonel Robin’s presence during the passing of the Defence Bill, and had to rely on a junior officer for the necessary assistance in getting the measure through the House. Altogether he submitted several charges. The following resolutions were carried :

“That this -meeting of Auckland citizens views with regret and indignation the decision of the Government to adhere to the grossly unjust sentence passed upon Captain Knyvett with respect to the charges against- which he has not been allowed a proper opportunity of defending himself, which have never been proved, and for which, if they bad been proved, the punishment was out of all proportion to the offence.

“That it is the opinion of this meeting, in view of the disclosures made in connection with the Knyvett ease, ns well ns the general state of unrest and dissatisfaction evident throughout the country, that there are strong and undoubted grounds, for believing that there should be set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the administration of the Defence Department, and that this meeting empowers the gentlemen constituting the executive of the Knyvett Defence Committee to place the matter before the Government, and request that such Royal Commission of Inquiry be sot up without delay. “That this meeting empowers a deputation, consisting of the Chairman of the meeting, the executive of the Knyvett Defence Committee, and the members of Parliament here present, to wait on the Hon. Geo. Fowldc and the Hen. Dr. Findlay, to supply them with copies of the resolutions passed at this meeting, and to request them to bring the matter before the Cabinet without delay, with a view to a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the administration of the Defence Deparmcnt being set up a t * *

SIR JOSEPH WARD CONTRADICTS CAPTAIN KNYVETT.

DUNEDIN, Fch. 15

In conversation with a “Daily Times” reporter to-day, Sir J. G. Ward said that ho did not uropose to discuss the Knyvett case, except to contradict some statements made hv Captain Knyvett in regard to Colonel Robin. The statement that ho (Sir J. G. Ward) had to dispense with Colonel Robin’s presence during the missing of the Defence Bill was absolutely contrary to fact, as was the statement that lie had to rely on a junior officer for necessary assistance in getting the measure through the House. In the first place, the Prime Minister said he understood every line of the Bill, and, secondly, The or.lv officer outside of Colonel Robin to whom he had spoken during the massing of the Bill was Major MacDonald in connection with the educational portion of the cadet branch.