WHY DISBANDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9450, 22 August 1889, Page 5

WHY DISBANDED.

THE ONEHUNGA AND WAITEMATA NA VALS.

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE.

MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

Wellington, Wednesday. Mr. Fisher asked the Minister of Defence to-day whether the Government intend to adhere to the determination to disband the Onehunga and Waitemata Naval corps. In asking the question, Mr. Fisher said the decision of the Government with regard to these two corps had given rise to a good deal of dissatisfaction in Auckland. It was a very harsh proceeding to disband the two corps on account of an assumed offence by a small number of men, and he held in his hand a statement of reasons why further enquiry should be made into the matter. He did not desire to reflect on the Minister or the Department, but he must say that justice had not been done, and could not be done except by an enquiry. Mr. Fergus replied that the two corps were disbanded on the Bth August, so that the whole thing had been accomplished. He had received a large number of letters bearing on the subject. The matter was one, however, a fleeting the whole volunteer force of the colony. The usual course was adopted of appointing a Board of Inquiry, which unanimously recommended that the corps be disbanded. Having carefully considered the whole matter, he (the Minister) assented to that, and the disbandment was accordingly carried out. Mr. Ward asked whether the evidence taken at the enquiry would be laid on the table.

Mr. Fergus said, if not an unusual course, he would have no objection. Mr. Fisher remarked that the captains of the two corps had been harshly treated by being arrested when they asked for an inquiry.