NOT GUILTY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3027, 14 March 1917, Page 8

NOT GUILTY

STRIKE BY SOLDIERS

TROUBLE ABOUT FOOD

At the Drill Hall yesterday X'rivates A. 11. ilili, S. A. Smart, A. V. Waller, C. H. ,S. Kevey, and J. Brown, of tho '23rd Reinforcements, were tried b.y court-martial on charges of insubordination. All were lound not guilty. The court consisted of Lieut.-Col. C. 1!. Macdonald (president), Capt. Thriller, and Capt. LLewish. Tho charges against the men were to the eit'ect that, they had refused to work on March 1, when ordered to do so. The accused said tiioj had refused to work until they received more food. Tho prosecutor, Ca.pt. I'. Baldwin, called evidence in support of the charges. Among his witnesses was Bombardier "W. H. M'lhvraith, K.N.Z.A., who was n.c.o. in charge at the detention barracks on March 1. Hearing of the matter, ho had the prisoners lined up, and he told them of the trouble they would get in.to by striking. However, each of the accused refused to work until they got better food. Subsequently, Major Sandle explained the position to the men, but they still struck for better food. To Pte. Smart: Major Sandle said that if tho men went back to work he would endeavour to get the cook to give the men better food. Captain Baldwin proposed to call Dr. Gilmcr to give evidence on the question of the sufficiency of the rations, but the-president said such evidence would not affect the case. Pte. Hill desired to call evidence as to the rations, and the president ruled this evidence out on the ground that it would not be justification. Addressing the court Captain Baldwin said that under the Army Act. if it was not possible to find a man guiltv of the maximum offence it was still possible to find him guilty in a lesser decree. The president said there was no evidence of a direct command to tho men to return to work having been given. The court considered its verdict in private, and in a few minutes announced that the men were not guilty.