THE KNYVETT CASE

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 32, 7 February 1910, Page 4

THE KNYVETT CASE

To say that the people of Auckland are disappointed twitii the decision of tiie Cabinet in the Knyrett case is to put very mildly the astonishment and indignation which this extraordinary episode has aroused amongst us. After the Auckland deputation had submitted the case to the Fi-emier in detail the original Court of Inquiry wee asked if the fact that the evidence on which its decision was based was admittedly incomplete and imperfectly recorded, or provided any excuse -for altering its judgment. The Court of Inquiry, not desiring to stultify itseK, naturally reports that it can see no ground for modifying its decision; the Cabinet accepts this extremely obvious reply as a reaeon for stating tihat it "has no recommendation to make to his Excellency the Governor," and so the faTce comes to a natural conclusion. There is evidently nothing more to Ibe got out of Government, and those oi us who *re determined to see justice done in this most unfortunate case must find other ways of expressing their views and .bringing pressure to bear upon the authorities.

For Sir Joseph Ward is much mistaken if he imagines that the last has been heard of the Knyvett case. The facts are so well known that we need not , recapitulate them; but we repeat that the whole incident has been handled from the beginning by the Department and by Government with almost inconceivable ineptitude. It is well known that Captain Knyvett submitted his complaints to the Minister in charge of his Department , in an absolutely correct and legitimate fashion; and the only possible conclusion that can 'be drawn from the way in which foe has been treated i» that under the military system approved by Government no soldier may ever dare to complain of a superior, without risking the blasting of his personal reputation and the ruin of his professional career. Even if Captain Knyvett had infringed the strict law of military discipline "by his letter, is the Premier prepared to contend that the only way in which such a formal breach of etiquette can be condoned is by inflicting a punishment reserved for the grossest personal misconduct or for the unpardonable crime of cowardice! And the fatuity of the course that has been adopted becomes all the moTe glaring when we remember that Captain Knyvett is universally admitted to be an extremely enthusiastic and capable officer, and that if he has erred at all, it has been solely through excess of zeal for the service to which he has devoted so much of his life already. The whole situation would be ridiculous if it were not tragic, and we can say most emphatically that the officials who Imagine they are doing their best for the Defence Department and for the newlyfledged scheme of Compulsory Military Service by seizing upon a childish pretext to dismiss such an officer as Captain Knyvett -with ignominy from the ranks, are likely to find out their mistake in a very unpleasant fashion before long. This country is prepared to go a long way in the cause of National Defence; but it is not by any means ready to submit to militarism of this singularly tyrannical type, as the Premier may speedily discover. We believe that Captain Knyvett has a remedy at civil law for the serious injury inflicted upon him by the arbitrary action of the Department, and we wish him every success. But what the people of the Dominion are cfaiefly anxious to know about this deplorable case is: Are the charges brought by Captain Knyvett true? and is it impossible under our military system to make a complaint, or air a grievance, without risking the fate that has overtaken Captain Knyvett? It is not our fault that these two difficult and dangerous questions must be asked, and that we are still waiting anxiously for an answer.

The following is Mr. D. C. Bates' report and weather forecast: "Moderate to strong easterly winda; expect warm and humid conditions, hazy and changeable weatherf glass little (movement." 0 During the progress of the Takapuna Jockey Club's Summer Meeting on Saturday a couple of accidents .occurred which fortunately were not attended with any serious consequences. In fche Marine Handica/p, Veitalia, one of the contestants, fell, her rider, W. Percival, being thrown heavily. He was conveyed •to the casualty room, where, on examination by Dr. Guinness, he was found to ■have received a badly bruised knee and foot, also a severe shaking. After receiving medical attention he was conveyed to his home in the ambulance. The ■hurdles on ra«*courses are always a source of attraction to small 'boys, and while playing with them, a lad named Frank Anderson, -whose parents reside in Nelson-street, fell heavily, sustaining slight concussion of the tor&in. He waa attended to by Mrs. Davis, of Remuera, until the arrival of Dr. Guinness, and after a of hours' rest was a-ble to proceed to his home.

According to the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister for Railways) the railway revenue for the four weeks ended January 8 was decidedly satisfactory. The revenue showed an increase of £22,000. compared with the corresponding period of last year, while the revenue for the year to date indicates that the railways are in a better position .by £180,000 net than Inst year at this period. The revenue 'had increased by £ 273,000, and to earn that large increase the expenditure had only ibeen increased by £85,000. For some time pact it has been current talk that St. Helier's Bay would one day be a popular residential suburb, and that people would be ready and anxious to go out there to live as soon as a tram service should bring the place within easier reach of the city. A poll of the residents was taken on Saturday on a proposal to run cars to the bay, the result being 135 votes for the- proposal and 48 against. The proposal was therefore carried by a majority of nearly three to one, which shows pretty *■ inclusively that the residents of St. Helier's are fully alive to the advantages which a tram service would bring to the suburb.

The number of prisoners In the Auckland Gaol at. the end of last week was 284, including 16 females:—On remand, 9 males, 2 females; awaiting trial, 18 males; life imprisonment, 1 male; hardlabour, 235 males; imprisonment, 2 males; default of bail, 3 males; received during the week, 33 males, 3 females; discharged, 33 males, 6 females.

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In the cottrae of & speech at the opening odt the Addington School, the "Mini*ter of Education touched upon the question of insuring school buildings against loss by fire, and said that the matter bad come up for consideration on many occasions. It most not be thought that the Department was guilty of cartleesness in neglecting to insure school Buildings. The position was that the losses to the Department through fire over a period of years bad been found to amount to quite one-third leas than the lowest offer -which had ibeen made to cover the Department's bufldingß by insurance, and until some insurance company or companies were prepared to come forward witH an offer which wae fees than the actual loss, it was manifestly the 'best policy for the I>epartment to refuse to insure. A young man, who ha|s ibeen in the hands of the police two or three times lately, caused a flutter in the Magistrate's Court at ChristchuTch by Itis free and easy manner in speaking to the Magistrate, Mr. H. W. Bishop, &M. He ■was charged witfl having used obscene language, and at first denied that he had used the words set down in the information. Then, with delightful .nonchalance, he leaned over the top of the prisoner's dock, and in a friendly tone explained to Mr. Bishop that he had argued with a man. "who had a wig on," discussing religious questions and drink. "I told him to get his hair cut," admitted the accused, (but his further explanation was cut off by Mr. Bishop remarking: "Stop that winking at mc. You can tell mc about it, Ibut I won't have you winking at mc."

Christchiirch volunteers are considerably annoyed over an instruction from the Defence Department that the electric light plant* and searchlights at the Dunedin and Lyttelton forte are to be removed to Wellington and Auckland for use in connection with the Inspections iby Lord Kitchener. The defence authorities, when asked for an explanation of the position, state that the -matter is not suitable for public discussion. The "Lyttelton Times" states in regard to the proposal: "Lord Kitchener is about to visit this country in order to gain knowledge of our defences, and he will devote a share of his attention to the provision we have made for the protection of the chief harbours. The great soldier has intimated in. the most definite manner that his scheme of inspection is severely practical, and he •will not be at all grateful if the Defence Council collects its appliances at the northern ports in order , to make a display that will not represent truly the normal capabilities of the 'harbour defences. Tie occasion ie one for national introspection, for a very full and frank admiesion of the truth, and not for a vainglorious display in 'borrowed plumes on the part of s.ny particular centre." Officers of the Mokoia, -which arrived at Wellington on Eriday morning, reported having sighted a small deckhouse floating in the -water about four miles nCrth-east of Gable End (near Gisborne) at 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday. It was painted grey, and wae apparently new, not having been long in the water. Captain Smith expressed the opinion that it will probably come ashore in a veTy short tune somewhere about Tokomani or Waipiro. The -wind -was blowing alongshore at the time. The -wreckage is probably from some soiling vessel. About £ 5000 per annum ie being spent •by the Government in subsidising prospecting parties -who *re searching for gold. Government on Thursday last authorised the payment of £500 to a party of four—Messrs. D. Roes, W. Meates, R. Bannon, and J. Martin —who discovered the rich Blacbwater quartz reef, about sixteen miles south of Reef ton. With the help of the Government subsidy the party started prospecting on the Blaekwater field .in October, 1905, and the find was nearly six miles from the Big River mine, the nearest payajbie reef. The quality of the mine was such that the Consolidated Blaekwater Mines Company spent £100,000 in plant and labour to develop the reef, and since crushing was commenced in September, 1908, the average monthly output has been over 1000 ounces. Last November the output wae about 2000 ounces. A prospector in the Marina district claims to have discovered another, gpldfield,- and has sent in a claim for a reward. The Minister for 3fines (Hon. R. M.'Zenzie) has instructed the inspecting branch of the department to enquire into the matter.

' Among the latest attractions at the Royal Zoological Society's Gardens, Moore Park, Sydney, is an exhibit of eight young crocodiles. They were procured from eggs secured on a river bank in New Guinea, and were forwarded to Sydney. They hatched en route on the Prinz Sigismund, and have now been transferred to the reptile-house in the gardens, and seem to be thriving happily enough. The crocodiles are about Tin. long, and are feeding on insects.

It is now some months smce the Otahiihu railway station was destroyed by fire (writes our correspondent), and as yet no start has been made with the erection of a new one. The officials have much difficulty in transacting the station business m the present temporary ahed, which is not only too small, but "uncomfortably hot. There are no conveniences whatever for the public, who are compelled to stand on the platform -while waiting for trains, which is particularly trying for women. ,and children during the present hot weather. It is hoped that the Department will push on the work, so as to have the new building up before the winter sets in. Mr. James Lockington, a -well-known Katikati settler, met with a painful accident recently when working a mowin<» machine. He was approaching one of his team, a young and spirited animal, on the side on which the knives of the machine were exposed, and the horse plunging forward, he was thrown on his hands and face, with one of the keenedged knives buried in the calf of his leg. Fortunately the horses obeyed a sharp cry of "Whoa!" from Mr. Lockington as he fell, but not before he had been dragged along a few feet, the blade inflicting a deep and ugly wound.

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