THE KNYVETT CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 41, 17 February 1910, Page 4

THE KNYVETT CASE.

The deputation -which waited upon the Hon. G. Fowid3 and the Hon. Dr. Findlay yesterday to represent the views of the people of Auckland on the Knyvetx case certainly seem to liave impressed tne Ministers with the serious character of the situation. This is something to be thankful for, and we have, at least, some ground for hope tlrat the representations which the Minister for Education and the Minister for Justice will necessarily make to the Premier will produce the desired effect. It is painfully evident that Ministers have not yet given l**.s question the attention it demands; indeed, Mr Fowlds admitted yesterday that he knew practically nothing about the facts, beyond what was contained in the official reports. As to the law of the case, as expounded by the Minister for Justice, with all due respect to Dr. Findlay's high reputation, we venture to suggest that if, as lie admits, the charges of insubordination were "heard, but not tried," it is extremely difficult to discover on what grounds Captain Knyvett was sentenced or punished. Dr. Findlay, it will be observed, throws the responsibility for the penalty entirely upon Colonel Tuson, and from this we gather that the officer in question is regarded by Ministers as eotnipetent in ids own person to discharge the duties which are, as we understand the regulations, supposed to ibe i exercised by & Court Martial sot up to

consider the finding oi a preliminary Court of Inquiry. This is rather a novel •way of putting the case, and we should ■be glad to hear it argued before a Civil Conit by authorities fully conversant with military law. However, though tne deputation did' not get much sympathy out of yesterday, tihey received from Dr. Findlay the assurance that he intended to impress upon the Premier and his colleagues the state of public feeling in Auckland on the subject, and we have therefore some reasonable excuse for hoping that something may yet be done to redress Captain Knyvett's just grievancej and to restore the prestige of the Dafence Department throughout the Dominion.