H.—l9e

1913. NEW ZEALAND.

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT: PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO THE SERVICE AND RESIGNATION OF CAPTAIN SEDDON.

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated the 16th October, 1913. Ordered, " That there be laid before this House a return showing—(l) The date on which Captain Seddon eft New Zealand for Britain for the purpose of undergoing training in connection with the Defence system, together with a copy of the agreement (if any) entered into by Captain Seddon ; (2) the date on which Captain Seddon returned to New Zealand, together with information as to the duty to which he was posted on his return ; (3) the actual time Captain Seddon served on his return to New Zealand ; (4) the time Captain Seddon was off duty or on leave while in Britain ; (5) the total amount paid to Captain Seddon from the time he left New Zealand until he resigned, suoh amount to include pay, allowances, and travelling-expenses; and (6) the date of Captain Seddon's resignation."—(Mr. Scott.) Department of Defence : Officer of the New Zealand Staff Coeps sent to England for Training. Beturn showing Pay, Allowances, Travelling-expenses, &c, drawn by Captain Seddon. 1. The date on which Captain Seddon left New Zealand for Britain for the purpose of undergoing training in connection with the Defence system was the 23rd March, 1911. The Regulations for the Military Forces of New Zealand .were not signed by His Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington) until the sth May, 1911. Prior to this date certain officers who had been sent Home for training had entered into agreements not to resign their commissions for a definite period after their return to the Dominion, but no written agreement was entered into by Captain Seddon. 2. The date on which Captain Seddon returned to New Zealand was the 26th August, 1913. On the Ist May he was appointed by General Order, on his return to New Zealand, to take up the duties of Officer in Charge of No. 2 Area Group, with headquarters at Paeroa. This appointment is an administrative appointment, and one which the Defence Department considered suitable, having regard to the merits and capabilities of Captain Seddon. 3. Captain Seddon, on his return to New Zealand, did not report himself for duty until the 29th August. He then applied for and was granted leave until the 12th September, on which date he had been ordered to report himself to the Officer Commanding the Auckland District. He did not proceed to Auckland until further ordered by telegram to do so, arriving there on the 17th September. The actual time, therefore, that Captain Seddon served on his return to New Zealand was from the 17th September to the Ist October, 1913. 4. The time Captain Seddon was off duty or on leave while in Britain is as follows : Prom the first week in May, 1911, when he landed in Britain, till the 3rd October, 1911, he was absent without leave, and did not report himself for duty to the War Office until the 3rd October, 1911. From August till the 12th September, 1912, he was ill. He was also granted leave on a medical certificate from April, 1913, till the 30th June, 1913, when he sailed for New Zealand via Vancouver. He did not arrive in New Zealand until the 26th August, 1913. 5. The final accounts have not yet been received from the High Commissioner, but the total amount hitherto paid to Captain Seddon from the time he left New Zealand until he resigned is £1,423 3s. Id., made up as follows : — £ s. d. Pay ... ... ... ... .., ... ... 866 13 4 Allowance ... ... ... ... ... ... 391 9 9 Outfit grant ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 0 0 Passage-money ... ... ... ... ... ... 140 0 0 Oversea allowance ... ... ... ... ... 10 0 0 Total ... ... ... ... ... 1,423 3 1 6. Captain Seddon applied to be allowed to resign, first of all, on the 10th September, 1913. As his application was not in order it was returned to him. His second application is dated the 19th September, 1913, and was gazetted on the 16th October, 1913. E. S. He AMD, Colonel, Commandant New Zealand Forces. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,400 copies), £1 2s. 6d.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l3

Price 3d.]