THE KNYVETT CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14322, 18 March 1910, Page 6

THE KNYVETT CASE.

AN OTAHUHU PROTEST.

ANOTHER INDIGNATION MEETING.

An indignation meeting in connection with Captain Knyvett's case was held.<in the Masonic Hall," Otahuhu; last evening, Mr. ;John Todd presiding. ;• The hall was crowded to its utmost limits, all available standing room being occupied. ..-.■: ..'.-. ___ '; Mr. Todd proposed the following .motion:; '•—" That this meeting of electors Manukau .views with regret and indignation the decision of the Government' to adhere to the grossly unjust sentence passed upon Captain Knyyett with respect to charges against which he has •' not ' been ' allowed " a -proper opportunity of "defending himself, which have never been proved, and for which,'; if they, had been proved, . the ';'<• punishment would be out of all proportion to the 5 offence." '' ' '« -

Mr. F. Lang, ; M.P., in seconding, said that they asked for fair play and justice to a fellow citizen, : who had had neither one nor the other. A Royal Commission to inquire irfto the Defence Department was absolutely necessary, in order to restore the confidence of the -people,. who : were shortly to come under the new Act of compulsory training, and who could not respect a Department that dealt out injustice, and that was content to rest under a cloud "of accusations of incompetence without .making any effort to clear them away. , „ '■..'/■ -• \2 Mr.' J. S. Dickson (chairman of the Kny,vett Defence Committee) reviewed some -of the, facts of .the ca,se, and said the committee had ; no intention of making a poli-) tical fight of \ it. : .The \ people were fighting j for justice, and they must get it.... -~ i The motion was- put to the meeting, and j carried, with loud cheering. ' > .■■-''. . , J Mr. A. . Stutges then moved, That it is the opinion of ; jh'is meeting of electors of j Manukau, in view of the disclosures made in connection with the Knyvett case, ;as well as the general state of unrest and dissatisfaction evident -\ throughout the country;, that ; there are ; ; strong \ and ; undoubted grounds for believing that there should be at once set up Royal Commission of Inquiry into the administration v< of the Defence Department." *; In speaking, to the motion, Mr. Sturges said that it ; was most essential that a Royal Commission- be ' set up, thereby enabling important evidence to be given by privileged witnesses, who were at present tongue-tied. He felt sure Captain Knyvett had done everything possible j to keep within the strict letter of the regulations. , ■ Mr. J. Brady, in seconding the' resolution, said a Royal Commission must certainly be j set up 'if the Defence Department was to have the confidence ■of the public.; He was glad to see the Knyvett Defence Committee ' carrying on the campaign in the outlying districts. ,; .;';.>■;;.,"-;'- V ; .■'■■ t -'■•':■:■■ '•••^.V;". '*■■* : .' ; .".~J ; Mr. ;R. A. Armstrong, secretary of the Defence . Committee, in supporting;"■; the motion, said that the committee were not tiring, and that, in i the ■ interests of justice, the fight would be carried on unflaggingly to the end.- ':•> • '■'.■.'•'.'." ! "■• ■ ■ il- ,--;: The motion was put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. A collection taken up in aid of the funds amounted to nearly £3. *'■'- ' -';.,'.; .•A ,vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting. ;^i' -J[ y: '.' '''"'M The following telegram was sent by Mr. J. •S. Dickson, ; chairman 'of. the '* Knyvett Defence Committee, ■to Sir Joseph Ward, yesterday ''In' reply to a' telegram from me, Mr. Fowlds wires that he has* submitted to you the representations made to him by the deputation of citizens; on! 16th ult., re Captain Kny vett.- When may we expect a reply? (Signed) J.■ S. Dickson, Chairman, Knyvett Defence Committee." ■"'. v-': ; -:'-•■'•■'*" ;: '--' ■■■'■'■■■•■"-■: ''\' ''■<■'' : '-' : -1 ■''■■■'r'^-':-H-:,