"ANOTHER KNOCKOUT!"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3185, 8 September 1917, Page 7

"ANOTHER KNOCKOUT!"

DR. TfIACKER AGAIN

AN INCIDENT IN PARLIAMENT

A ease of alleged hardship—one of manv. that have come before .the Defence Minister recently—was brought to the notice of the Minister in the House yesterday by Dr. Thacker. Similar oaees nave been mentioned: by other members, but most of them have had a privnte interview with the Minister. Then inquiries ore made, and it often appears after inquiry that the facts are not as represented to members of Parliament. Dr. Thacker's complaint was abont a man who had been summarily arrested in Palmerston. This man, who was in the Second Division, had tried to get away, several times, but had always,been rejected as medically unfit. But on last Friday week he had 1 been summarily arrested. Dr. Thacker asked tho Minister of Defence what. ho.intended to do to protect the public against rheso occurrences.

Sir James Allen: Will the honourable member givo mo the name of tho man, and I will make inmiirios? Dr. Thacker: I will give you his name afterwards. Sir James Allen: But I cant reply to the question unless I . know the man 9 name. •'.... Dr..Thacker: I.want a general reply to the question. Sir James Allen: Will the honourable ■member give me the name? Dr. Thacker did not give the name. Sir James Allen: I think' I know this case. Iβ tho name Gavin? Dr. Thacker did not reply. An honourable member: Silence gives consent.

Sir James Allen: I ask the honourable member whether the name ie Gavin. '.

Dr. Thncker: Mr. Speakor, tho Defence Minister has taken me to task for individualising in other cases, and I don t intend to do it in this case. Sir James Allen: T. think this is the case that the honourable member for Christchnrch. North saw me about yesterday, privately and quite properly. I 'should" not now have given the name away but for the question of the honourable' member for Christchurch, Dr. Thacker. He has said that the Defence Department arrested thie man and: toolc him into camp, and I think it is also eaid that the man has a wife and one child. Now, what is the story of this case? This man enlisted twice, and was turned down as medically unfit.' Ho was apparently keen to get away, anil he came down to Wellington .'ind enlisted here, was examined, and passed as. fit. He was asked in Wellington it he had ever attested before or if he had enlisted before, and . his, answer was

"\o" He was ordered into camp on a certain date; He disobeyed the order. Tho police were instructed to search for him and bring him into camp, and they found .him in Palmerston and brought him into camp. When he attested in Wellingtonghe did not inform the officers that "e had ever enlisted before, and I don't think he informed them that he had a wife and child. An. honourable member: . Another knock-out! ■