THE LAST PHASE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1152, 13 June 1911, Page 6

THE LAST PHASE.

LETTER BY MR. F. B, KNYVETT. .WILL SEEK NEW FIELDS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, June 12. What is probably the last stage of "the Knyv'ett case" was entered into on Saturday, when ex-Captain Knyvett received from the Adjutant-General extracts from the New Zealand Gazette of June 1, promulgating his dismissal, and stating that the Governor would, on the recommendation of the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, la\ourably consider an application by exCaptam lvnyvett to be posted to the reserve of otheers, provided such application was accompanied by an ample apology for, and retraction of, a certain letter. Captain Knvvett on Saturday sent .the following letter to the Commandant of I lie Forces:— , , "Sir,—l. havo the honour to acKnowledge the receipt of your letter of June 8, enclosing extracts' from the New Zealand Gazette of June 1, 1011, wherein it stoics that the sentence previously passed upon myself had been upheld by the.military court, assembled on May Ift, disuniting me from the New Zealand Defence 1' orces for conduct, to the prejudice of good order and military discipline; also the extract of the same date from New Zealand yazette, No. 45, notifying mo that, in view of my excellent previous record in the Defence Forces, I should be appointed to the reserve of officers, provided that 1 totracted the letter written by me, and made an ample apology for the same, have 'never at any time desired anj thing further than the finding ot a fair ami impartial military court.. 1 consider that the charge which I accepted (.') on Ma}' 10, 1911, was a fair charge that coulil have been laid in the first instance oi my writing the letter, although, previously, seven other charges have been tain and refuted. . "If, as I understand, the court-martial presided over by Lieutenant-Colonel Heard, considered that the crime (if any) which I committed was sufficient to warrant my dismissal from the New Zealand Defence forces, I am quite prepared to accept, that as a decision (although I think that, some day, the question ot prm.ege will bo upset). I know quite well that the gentlemen constituting the Knyvett Defence Committee in Auckland na\e never desired, nor asked, for anything more thaii the finding of a properly-eon-stituted court, and I am quite sure that thev, equally with myself, are prepared to accept a' bona-fide sentence given in good faith. t "1 may say that I extremely. regrej. having written the letter, inasmuch as it has causel my friends a good ileal ot unnecessary expense and worry, but, as the letter was written in good faith, and there was no tribunal at tho time, to which I could go for advice as to whether it would be prejudicial to military discipline or not, as the facts stated therein are absolutely tine, and can bo substantiated, I unfortunately havo to decline to withdraw tho letter, or any of tho statements therein made. "Although, unfortunately, I personally am the sufferer by the letter, yet I feel it has been productive of a great deal of good. The status of an officer in New Zealand has been established in a way in which it never had previously been, and no officer can again suffer the ignominy to which I have been put without a trial. I should have'very much desired to have served on the reserve of officers, but. I feel that tho demands of tho Gazette would nccessitato my sacrificing iny manhood to secure such a purpose, anil I cannot do that, as I cannot live in a country in whose service I am debarred from wearing his Majesty's uniform. "I feel that the best course for myself and for my friends would be for mo to leave New Zealand, and this I intend doing at an early date. "As I do not desiro it to be said after I have' left here that I cannot support or substantiate the statements made in my letter, I beg most respectfully to notify you that I am prepared now, or .il any time in .the future, to. substantiate fully the statements. and facts in my letter, should at. any future time the officer complained of desire to have his personal honour cleared. I am prepared, if then away from New Zealand, to come back hero 'and substantiate my statements. "I desire to thank yc-u personally for the. courteous manner in which you have treated my corrcsjiondancc, and also to ■•ite. that I consider that the Military Court set up by yov.rself, to hear my case, impartially and fairly conducted the trial in accordance with the very careful terms of the charge laid." [The charges mad? ■ against Colonel Robin by Mr. Knyvett in his "insubordinate letter" have never been investigated. Knvvett's offence was the diction used by hi'm when referring to his superior officer. It should !:e noted, howeveiv that Colonel Robin;'.at ;.the_. ; outset, expressed' a. wish' that.ah inquiry.should be held.- Jteplying,. on January 18,. .1910, to the -Defcnco -Minister's request, for., a report on the , Knyvett case—Knyvett'* letter wap written on November 10, 1909— Colonel P.obin concluded his memorandum jrith the following requesti^-.; .... . "I beg to request that a full inquiry bo held into any charges made against, me. I havo no prejudice of any kind against Captain Knyvett. and have ' only done my duty, as I'would'do in the case of any officer who was breaking the regulations of the service." Sir Joseph Ward, replying thereto, stated as follows:— "Referring to your memorandum, the .Government will give you tho op- . portunity you desiro for inquiry when the new Commandant, who is to .bo appointed, arrives in the Dominion. At present there is no officer whoso status is such that - ho .could be ap-. pointed to make the inquiry you ask lor. I will introduce legislation next' session, setting up a permanent Court of Appeal in times of peace, to enable officers dismissed to have the right of appeal, and by this means prevent a iccurrence of such a case as this being used to bring outside pressure to bear, and so interfere with the inde]>en'dent administration of the Defence Department, which, in the interests of the country, should lie protected against interference of anv kind." General Godley arrived in New Zealand in December last, but no inquiry, so fat as the public is aware, has taken place. 'I he above letter by tho ex-captain strengthens the argument for tho inquiry, which, in jiistico to Colonel Robin, should be held if for no other reason than to put a definite end. to this wearisome Knyvett case.]