ADMISSION OF DEFIANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16800, 16 March 1918, Page 6

ADMISSION OF DEFIANCE

P. C. WEBB COURT-MARTIALLED REFUSAL TO OBEY ORDER. [BY TELEGRAPH-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Friday. A district ftiurt-martial was opened todav for the purpose of trying Private P. C. Webb, the member for Grey, on a charge of having refused to obey a lawful command given personally by a superior officer. ... Webb appeared in Court with a bulky volume and bundle of papers, hot being 1 represented by counsel. When asked the ' usual question as to whether he objected to being tried by the members of the , court-martial, he answered, "Certainly not." Giving evidence, Lieutenant Thomas and Sergeant Carey detailed the j refusal of Webb to take his kit when ordered to do so. There were no other witnesses tor the prosecution. .. . The accused said he did not wish to give evidence or call witnesses. He desired to make a statement to the Court. , Webb opened his address by thanking the military authorities for their treatment of him and expressed his appreciation of the assistance and advice given him by tne Judge-Advocate, Colonel C. R. Macdonald. The charge brought against him was a serious one, and it was quite clear .that u the case had been brought before a general court-martial he would have been liable to a sentence of death. He proceeded to say that he had been compelled bv principle to refuse to obey the orders. He had repeatedly protested against men in civil life, whether they were political, religious, or conscientious objectors, being tried bv court-martial. He questioned the judicial capacity of the military officers, j and said that if he was to be tried he should not be brought bifore men whose political or military judgment *aa against the stand he took up. The law should reflect the collective judgment of the people, , and .ho wished to question the law under which he was charged. The conscription law had been passed about twelve months after Cue last general election without the mandate of the people. Webb went on to state that the soldiers who had helped to elect him to Parliament in 1914 had left him to represent them and their dependants. They had asked him to look after their interests. He had stated his willingness to obey the will of his constituency, and added that he waa willing i to go to the front if his constituents said eo, but no request of the kind had come forth. He had registered his protest against the evil things done during the war. Major Talbot: By whom? By the Germans'/ Webb: By some people who are equally as bad as the Germans, when they pile up war profits while the people who pay these war profits are being exploited. In concluding," Webb questioned the soundness of military law, because of its lack of support throughout the country. He realised that he had no expectation of consideration, and would suffer the penalty of his disobedience. The wrongs done him and others would be remembered on the day of political judgment, when the people dealt with the Government at the polls. He had served his own conscience, and would be prepared to accept the judgment of the people. Colonel Mac Donald said the prosecution had established its case by showing that the order given was a lawful one, that it had been properly given, and that the accused had refused to obey it. The accused had admitted his defiance of law plainly, and the case could ho left to the decision of the Court.' The Court was cleared while the members considered their decision. The decision and sentence will bo promulgated later.