THE PONSONBY VOLUNTEER OFFICERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7904, 24 March 1887, Page 5

THE PONSONBY VOLUNTEER OFFICERS.

VIEWS OF THE DEFENCE MINISTER. [BY TEL&GIUPfT.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. The Defence Minister has informed me that the case of the Volunteer officers put under arrest by Lieutenant-Colonel MahOn would bs dealt with in the manner provided by the regulations, by Colonel Lyons, the officer commanding in the Auckland district. He also informed me that the duty imposed upon the Government was to see that the regulations were strictly carried out, and that the officer in command of the district was responsible to the department for the good order and discipline of the force under his command. The Board of Inquiry authorised by the regulations would have the powers provided by the Act to deal with such cases. The decision, whatever it may be, would not be influenced in any way by the department. As to the resignation of the officers affecting the volunteer system, he did not think that there would be any valid ground of complaint if their conduct was duly considered by a proper tribunal. Such a tribunal would take cognisance of all the faots of the case, bnt with a special view to the maintenance of discipline. As to the discontent among the body of volunteers being the result of tho action taken in regard to the staff officers, he considered that tho first thing to be done was to determine what the facts were. The Board would be in a position to pronounce judgment. He believed that there would be no lack of good men to take the places of those officers who had resigned, The district office would, of course, report the result of the inquiry to the department.