H.—l9b

46

The President: The Court wishes to givu you every opportunity uf calling further witnesses. Those are all the names you wish to give 1 Captain Knyvett: Yes, at present. The President read over the questions and answers as they had been taken down. The President: Well, the Court has no more questions to ask you. Do you wish to give anyfurther evidence on this point 1 Captain Knyvett: No, sir. I have got tired of giving evidence on points. The President: Do you wish to call the officers? Captain Knyvett: Yes. I will call Captain Dawson first. Captain Thomas Henry Dawson, Captain of the College Rifles and Signalling Staff Officer for the Auckland District, was called in, and sworn. The President: The charge against the accused Captain Knyvett: The witness is mine, and it is for me to ask him. The President: What is the question you wish to ask ? Captain Knyvett: I want to ask Captain Dawson what service he has had. The President: That practically goes without saying; it is in the Army List. Captain Knyvett: Yes, but I want it brought out in evidence. The President (to Captain Dawson): Are you an officer of considerable service? Captain Dawson: Two years active service, and fifteen years other service-—really two years and three months active service, two years of which were as subaltern in the Ist Border Regiment. Captain Knyvett: I would like to ask if he is Staff Officer in this district without pay. The President (to Captain Dawson) : Are you a Staff Officer in this district without pay? Captain Dawson: Yes. Captain Knyvett: I would like to ask if, after the Easter manoeuvres, Captain Dawson sent a signalling sergeant-major to instruct The President: You cannot ask that. Captain Knyvett: I want to show how Colonel Robin interfered with something which was done for the good of the corps. The President: The Court will not allow that question. The question is: Have you been approached by Captain Dawson as to experience of unwarranted interference? Captain Knyvett: I ask you to ask Captain Dawson if, after I arrived back from Wellington, he approached me, and said he had experienced the same unwarranted interference by the Chief of General Staff, and gave to me what his experiences were. I take it that you will not allow me to bring out what the experiences were? The President: No. The question was put to the witness. Captain Dawson: Yes, sir. I may say that we were all very upset over what occurred at Wellington, and I, among others, saw Captain Knyvett. He told me what had happened in Wellington, and I told him that I had a grievance against the Chief of General Staff, complaints of interference, or what I considered to be interference. Captain Knyvett: I would like to call Captain Shera, sir. Captain Shera was called in. Captain Knyvett: I would like to get the incident, sir, if the Court will permit me? The President: No, I will not allow that. Captain Louis Murray Shera, Officer Commanding No. 3 Company, New Zealand Engineers, was then sworn. Captain Knyvett: I would like to ask Captain Shera what previous service he has held,. The question was put. Captain Shera: Twelve years in the College Rifles, and about twelve months in No. 3 Company, to which I was transferred from the College Rifles. Active service from February to August, 1902. Captain Knyvett: I would like to ask if Captain Shera was mentioned in despatches The question was put. Captain Shera: No, sir. Captain Knyvett: I would like to ask if, since my return from Wellington, he approached me, and told me that he had a similar experience of unwarranted interference by the Chief of General Staff. The question was put. Captain Shera: Yes, sir. Colour-Sergeant Mackerras was then called in and sworn. Captain Knyvett: I would like the whole of his services put in, sir. The President (to Colour-Sergeant Mackerras): What is your service? Colour-Sergeant Mackerras: I have fiftesn years' broken, and ten years' consecutive service, sir. In the Dunedin Highland Rifles 1888, then as a private in the Clutha Mounted Rifles, then as a sergeant in the Feilding Mounted Rifles, and then as a colour-sergeant in the Newton Rifles. Captain Knyvett: Before I put the question I would like the Court to decide. The evidence would bear out the question exactly. I want the Court to ask Colour-Sergeant Mackerras if he approached me since my return from Wellington, and gave me an instance of unwarranted interference by Colonel Robin. The President: The answer must be Yes or No. The question was put. Colour-Sergeant Mackerras: Yes. The President: The Court will adjourn until 9.30 to-morrow morning.