THE COURT MARTIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3579, 19 July 1912, Page 2

THE COURT MARTIAL.

SEiNTENGES INFLICTED IN EVERY CASE. REMISSIONS ALLOWED BY DISTRICT O.G. t ADVICE GIVEN BY THE ADJUTANT. Tho findings of the Court-martial which sat in Gisborne last week to deal with offences against discipline, preferred against ten privates bsi paging to “A” Squadron, 9th Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles, were announced yesterday by Captain Morrison, adjutant of the regiment. The ten offenders were arraigned on thef following charge : “With disobeying in such a manner as to show a wilful defiance of authority, a lawful command given personally by his superior officer in the execution of his office, in that, at the Garrison Hall, Gisborne, on May 22nd, 1912, being on parade, they refused to number off when ordered to do so by Lieutenant Chus. Spragg.”

Four were also charged with having made use of obscene language. Captain Morrison again announced the constitution of the Court, and after traversing a great deal of formality, proceeding to announce, the findings. The sentences, it might lie pointed out, were decided on by the Court, and these were submitted, by way of recommendations, to the District O.C. (Colonel Chaytor, of Palmerston North) for confirmation. In every case l lie confirmed the sentences imposed, and granted remissions, which brought all the sentences to one level—7 days’ imprisonment. This term having expired at midnight on Wednesday, as Captain Morrison explained, the men were discharged, the state of being “under arrest” since the court martial serving is military detention. Following are the findings, (1) indicating the offence for refusing to number off and (2) the offence of using obscene language:— Private Parker—(l) 14 days’ detention ; 7 days’ remission granted. Private Rudolph Hansen —(1) 21 days’ detention; 14 days’ remission granted. Private Watts— (1) 14 dasy’ detention ; 7 days’ remission granted. Private J. F, Hansen—(l) 14 daysj detention; (2) found not guilty; 7 days’ remission granted. v Private Douglas—(l) 14 days’ detention ; 7 days’ remission Private Porter— (1) 14 days’ detention; 7 davs’ remission. Private N. Bull—(1) 14 days’ detention ; 7 days’ remission. Private F. Slingsby—(l) 21 days’ detention; (2) found not guilty, 14 days’ remission.

Private John Thompson—(l) 14 days’ detention; (2) found not guilty, 7 days’ remission. Private Matthews—(l) 14 days’ detention : (2) found not guilty, 7 days’ remission.

Anything Wrong with your Uniform? Private Porter, when called, stepped before the Court in mufti and suffered a sharp rebuke. “Why are you not in unifomP” Captain Morrison asked. Porter explained that he had to go to business and was unable to change. “I am very sorry,” said the captain, “but I cannot take that as an excuse. Is there anything wrong with your uniform?” “No,” was the answer, “but I did not have time to change.” “It is another case of a breach of discipline,” added the officer. “Y'ou have refused to obey an order.” Some Words of Advice. “I feel,” said Captain Morrison to the assembled men, after the findings had been delivered, “that you will all fee! satisfied that you have had a fair trial. I feel that you must all realise the gravity of tho offences now if you did nbt quite before. I hope, too", that you will realise how close to the wind vou have been sailing in this matter, and that the affair will act as a deterrent against all offences in future. 1 would advise you to think the matter over very seriously and decide whether you were at fault. Taking the evidence . and statements of most of you, it seems that you thought you were getting punishment in tl:e wav of extra drill. There was absolutely no question of punishment by drill." The orders issued by the Officer Commanding the Regiment state that all parades will be of three hours’ duration. This order was issued for the convenience of yog men and your employers and to save you money. It was realised that it was rather a hardship on you mounted men to ride in once a week and have to pay probably Is 6d eacli for tea and 2s for a feed' for your horse. The order was issued purely for your own convenience, and to save your money and an arrangement made, for drills up to three hours’ duration. This order was issued in April and not one of you men, it is strange to say, has protested against or complained about the new provision before. It is quite open for' any of you at any time, to go to the officer commanding and lodge a complaint about doing three hours’ drill or anything else. The matter of remedy rests with your commanding officer, who will, I am sure, furnish a remedy where lie can. For a man who works hard—say, for 9 or 10 hours a day—the officer will probably arrange for a. 11 hours drill and let you get away. It is really remarkable that this order was brought into force for your own benefit, and you did not seem to be acquainted with it.” Private Slingsby: “I thought it was 3 hours only for mounted parades.” , Captain Morrison: “Well if you think things you should make sure. If you are doubtful about things you should make certain by going to your officer. The legal time for that parade expired at 10.30 because it was summoned for 7.30.” Private Slingsby: ‘ 1 hen can. you tell me why 3 troops were dismissed and-our troop kept drilling? Captain Morrison explained at some length that this was a matter for the officer in charge to decide. Hie other troops had probably paid attentioi to their work and got away early, as compensation. , “Private Hansen: I heard incut. Spragg say, ‘I "-ill give you extra A, as punishment.’ Others heard him say it.” r ~ ~ Private Slingsby: I heard it. Captain Morrison, proceeding said : “If you had been drilling m tho dark somewhere and you did not obey an order, there might- have been some excuse, because you might think it Was not an officer, but the refusal

in the gaslight was a different thing. Do you know that in drawing up theso charges, I had a difficulty to distinguish between the charge framed and one of mutinous conduct.”

“In the future,” he continued, “if ariy man has a grievance or is in doubt, let him take this advice—act entirely on your own. Mutinous conduct is a very serious offence. If some man behaves in a mutinous way, then the whole company is guilty of mutinous conduct, unless the remainder advises the officer in command right away.” Private Hansen : “Has Lieut. Spragg got the right to give us extra fatigue drill P” Major Evans: “He has the right to give you what he considers fit.” Captain Morrison: “If you had a grievance you should have asked for the commander and lodged your complaint. There is one set of laws, let me remind you, for officers and men. If an officer commits an offence, _ it will be dealt with. . Do not think that the officers are supposed to he autocratic or obnoxious to you fellows?^ In conclusion, Captain Morrison exhorted the men to act well and recognise that they were hound by military- laws. He reminded that the District O.C. had been extremely’ lenient to them, probably because of the fact that, as one of their number had stated “they did not know all the points of the game.” In' answer to Private Porter, the adjutant said that the record of the court-martial could be used, against the offenders for any’ time within three years. The records were kept for seven years.

Major Evans spoke a few words to the men, expressino; the hope that they would behave better in the future. He was sure that they were reliable men and believed that they must have experienced a lapse. He advised them to behave well in the future.