THE AMOKURA BOYS.

Evening Star, Issue 15136, 18 March 1913, Page 8

THE AMOKURA BOYS.

OFFICIAL INQUIRY. [Special to the Star.] _ Auckland, March 17. A sensational story as to the methods of punishment on beard the Government training ship Amokura was the cause of an niquiry being opened by the Secretary for •Marine on board that vessel at 9.50 ©clock this morning. Allegations of flogging having been brought by Mr J, G. Harp, of I rankton Junction, the case has been forced under the attention of the Government by Mr J. H. Young AIP for Waikato. Yesterday Mr Voting Te ’ reived from the Hon. F.'M. B. Fisher the following telegram: I am forwarding your letter on to the Prime Minister. An inquiry will be opened by the Secretary of the Marine Department at 9.30 on Monday morning, at which a member of the Crown Law Office will also be present. I shall expect Air Harp to arrive, in Wellington on Tuesday or Wednesday to give evidence and substantiate his grave charge*. The allegations are contained in a letter written by Mr Harp, who states that in December last he visited the Amokura at Raglan, and. was informed by reliable People on the boat that the boys were flogged for_ trifling offences, such as having cigarettes in their possession and leaving articles about the deck. It was stated that the boys were stripped, held in a prostrate position, and severely flogged, leaving marks visible six months afterwards. Air Young, in commenting on this state, ment to the Minister, said ; I would like to knew from you if, to yoijr knowledge, there is any' truth in *he above alienations. If you have no knowledge, will yon cause an immediate inquiry to be made into the truth or otherwise of Harp’s statement? If these statements are true (Captain Hooper should be able to near them out or give them an absolute denial), will you have the system of punishment on the Ainokura revised, so that such brutal methods as described are instantly abolished.