JOHNSONVILLE RIFLES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 135, 2 March 1908, Page 9

JOHNSONVILLE RIFLES.

THREATENED DISBANDMENT. - A QUESTION OF SENIORITY. J ' Reference has already been mado, in tho columns'of Tjle -Dominion*,, to tho existence of ; serious, fcroublo. in the '.Johnson-, vill'o Rifle Corps: With the purpose of clearing away any misapprehension which may 'liavo - arisoiv in ':tho public mind concerning tho immediate cause of the trouble, a"full of, the incidents leading, up to the present crisis is; given, hereunder. . - ■ 'The activo strength bf- tho Johnsonvillo Rifles is 40. or thereabouts,, and its staff includes - Captain F. T. Moore, 0.C., and Lieutenants Alerrilies and Willis. Tho i difficulty under discussion concerns the seniority of tho two subaltern officers; . ■ '

~ Some, timo ■ ago, the data is'immaterial, an election wa3 ' held for l tho /appointment of subalterns.' ' Owing to, a inisconcoption regarding the: regulation status'of c'ompany officers, it . was dccided to tako'nominations the' election' of (1)' a senior, subaltern, and .then (2) a junior As a mat,ter of fact there is "no such'tiling, strictly ! speaking as an election 'for' a senior- subal- ( tern. ■ Seniority is reckoned by either of tVi'o considerations: (a) the date of : commission;' or, if tho' dates arc' contemporaneous ,'(b),' by the alphabetical order of' the initial letters of the surnames. : Acting im igiioranco- of this rule, apparently, tho, men accepted, as nominations for the election of a senior .subaltern, tlio names of . Messrs. Merrilies and Willis.; Mr. 'Willis was elccted ,as senior subaltohi; : Mr. Merrilies then offered himself .for' election as .'junior,' subaltern, and; was duly electcd. . ' ' ' . 1

: The. inforonco fronf the:elections held is, that, When tho. captain of tho. Corps ,is absont from ,i : -company .parade— the mon prefer that Lieutonant "Willis should command. Subsequently) it .was pointed ,out 'that'.' seniority -• with respect to.' Lieutohaiits Willis ,nnd' : ;Merrilies < must\ bo v determined alphabetically' as' 1 ' both officers ~ had . been elected 'q'n,'theVsaii\e date; .both .had passed thoi r; ex a lrii nai; ions: a lid Received; thc|r coin- , contemporaneously. /' Lieutenant JlerrilW' then became, senior, subaltern by virtuo of tho regulations. It is expected that Captain Moon will resign his' command at do distant dato, owing' q'ress'uro' of'.private business. If, as would appear from the facts,' the men'wish to Ijo commanded by .Lieutonant.. Willis,' it will, then be perfectly competent for them;.to .elect that officer,to tho captaincy, questions .of seniority', notwithstanding.- This, however, . they are , evidently, hot. prepared to wait for, and a petition, containing thirty-four signatures,, was presented, ni.'which ,tho resignation''of. Lieutenant. .was asked for/ , This; ac-. tion was ii distinct breach of and a 'Military'. Board, of,' inquiry,, consisting of Captain F. Symon, R.N.Z.E., Captain.Esson (City Rifles), and Lieutenant / C-. C!ollins : (Post,and Telegraph Rifles),ywas.,set up by the District Oifico to investigate the matter,;

The.'Board sat at, ; Johnsonville on Hiurs-. day. evening last, and <Sergeants K. M. Carter, and V. A. Mills,; Corporal 13. C. Kirk, and Privato T, F. Edgo, who were summoned to appear, were called upon to show-why_ they should not be dismissed from the _ service., for insubordination,namely, signing a request, to -.which *was appended thirty additional signatures,, for, the resignation of. Lieutenant ..Meril.ie?. .A' number.. of ,witnesses .were.also examined.. !,' ;. ;,

..Local, fqeling over- the incident runs-very. liigh, : ami. it is practically.;,certain.'.that,., shouldthe decision of..tho Court go against the. men, the disbandment .of the .corps .will: follow. ■ . V