The Advocate. [Established 1888.] [PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER AND GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1910. AN INDIGNATION MEETING.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXII, Issue 14, 18 January 1910, Page 4

The Advocate. [Established 1888.] [PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER AND GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1910. AN INDIGNATION MEETING.

CIRCULATES IN Dannevirke Mar.gatoro Tamaki Ngapaeruru Mangahe Weber Ti Tree Point Waione Wimbledon Herbertville Akitio Horoeka Oringi Kiritaki Maliarahara Woodville ' Umutaoroa Matamau Piripiri Makotuku Onnondville Norsewood Takapau Whetukura Awariki Otanga Kumeroa Rangitane Raumati Rua Roa S. Norsewood Tiratu Tipapakuku Mangapuaka Mangatuna Makaretu

The case of Captain Knyvett is likely to prove a somewhat difficult one for the Defence Department to dispose of. It was quite apparent that the matter could not be left at the anomalous decision arrived at by the Court of Enquiry, and public opinion has been much incensed by the dismissal of Captain Knyvett from the volunteer service. This was amply demonstrated by the mass meeting held at Auckland on Friday evening, when the case was fully discussed on its merits,- and a stronglyworded resolution in favor of the appointment of a Royal Commission was carried. AVe think this fairly represents the general opinion held upon this unfortunate case. The public will not be satisfied to allow the matter to remain where it is. The action of the public men of Auckland is just what might be expected from a town where public feeling runs high. AVere the volunteers not prohibited from taking part, there would have been a strong representation made by Captain Knyvett's brother officers. Mr G. L. Peacock, one of the speakers at the Auckland meeting, summed up the position very accurately when he remarked that "the people of New Zealand could tolerate blunders due to honest stupidity, but not what he might call vindictive blunders." It looks very much as if there was some ulterior object in view in these proceedings, and Mr Peacock did not hesitate to affirm that personal animosity was responsible for the proceedings. A distinct charge has thus been made, and it is difficult to believe that the request for a Royal Commission can now be refused. We notice that two of Wellington's dailies take up the attitude practically that Captain Knyvett could not have expected any other result from his alleged insubordination, but public opinion will, we feel sure, not endorse this. It is imperative that Captain Knyvett's charges should be analysed by some independent tribunal, particularly in view of the fact that our whole scheme of military training is to be reorganised. AVe notice that

the Auckland Herald takes up a line similar to that advocated in our article of last week, and a leading article in that journal concludes as follows: —"If Sir Joseph Ward thinks that the cashiering of Captain Knyvett is the way to make things go more smoothly in the Defence organisation, he makes a grievous mistake which we sincerely hope he will retrace. There should be a Commission of Enquiry into the Defence organisation. The cashiering of Captain Knyvett should be withdrawn, upon the understanding -that if he fail? to entirely justify himself he shall resign. And it should be recognised, formally and officially, that it is not necessarily breach of discipline for a responsible volunteer officer to write to the Minister for Defence when he cannot secure justice in any other way. Sir Joseph Ward must know that unless he retraces an ill-advised procedure, the fight will pass from the Departmental Star Chambers to the public platform, from the platform to the House of Representatives—and it is quite impossible to foretell the names of all future Ministers for Defence."