The N.Z. Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1910. MANUFACTURED MARTYRDOM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7023, 11 January 1910, Page 4

The N.Z. Times.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1910. MANUFACTURED MARTYRDOM

INI*FINI>KNT." LSTADLISHED 1545.

Since a not inconsiderable number of newspapers have commenced pandering to the misguided "supporters" of Captain Knyvett, of Auckland, wo quite expect to find the dismissal of that officer from the volunteer force magnified until it bears an operaboutfe resemblance to the "affaire Dreyfus." Already national prejudice is being excited by publication of the statement that one of the officers who sat on the court-martial " is a native of Germany, and should not have been permitted to try a British officer." No doubt we will hear in a few days that this gentleman is a spy in the service of the Kaiser, or some equally absurd allegation. The usual comments about "a travesty of justice" and so forth aire also being circulated, and, generally speaking, a desperate effort made to .show that Captain Knyvett has not only been harshly dealt with, but treated with such injustice as to call for the protest by ordinary citizens and "strikes" by volunteer's. Wo hope the Defence Department will have backbone enough to stand firm against intimidation by strikers and hysterical outcries from mischiefmaking busybodies. Captain Knyvett is not a martyr, nor anything like one. Unless the common conception of discipline is to bo revised and reduced to nonsense such action as that which led to Captain Knyvett's removal must be visited" with disapproval expressed in the sternest possible way. If it were not, and the authorities capitulated to a noisy revolt against the enforcement of discipline, it is very clear what the immediate result would be. So far as threats to strike are concerned wc should imagine that they, too,/ are a distinct breach, and should bo treated accordingly. The case of this officer ' and what has occurred during the last few days shows once more how farcical the system of electing officers has always been. "Under the new Defence Act this anomaly will not exist in the Territorial Forces and the " popularity " of officers be of quite secondary importance. "We have not a little sympathy with Captain Knyvett in the personal sense, because he was a very efficient and zealous officer, but we have none with him bo far as his act of indiscretion is concerned. Impulsiveness made him the architect of his own misfortune. He should pay without demur tho price of having disregarded the regulations under which he served, and those people who aro clamouring in vague remonstrance against his treatment aro doing ill service not only to him but to military administration in the Dominion as well.