AMOKURA INQUIRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8481, 16 July 1913, Page 2

AMOKURA INQUIRY

REPLY TO MR FISHER AND MR ALLFORT BY J. G. HARP. To the Editor “N.Z. Times.” Sir,—ln outlining the case to members of Parliament, Mr Fisher makes several misleaxng statements. Ho first of all says that I have a son on the xVmokura. lam thankful to say that such is not the case. No son of mine, or anyone belonging to mo, will ever go on such a slap if 1 cau prevent it. Fn many cases wounds and bleeding wore inflicted. Mr Campbell diu siot come to me with the information. On the contrary. X went to him after the captain had told mo of the flogging. Mr Campbell was not put off the ship at Raglan, but took ill while ashore, and was consequently loft on sick leave. The ship was taken to sea on tho “strength” of his name being on the articles as second officer, so there was up bo then no mention of his being put off the ship. Mr Campbell did not require any pros sure to come to Wellington oftcr the department guaranteed his expenses. Mr Fisher talks of corporal punishment in schools. Are boys held down in schools' by four men and blood drawn with a specially whipped rope? Pure bluff and nothing else. Mr Fisher has laid the document on the table of tho house. Has he laid certain correspondence on the table relating to the inquiry which was suppressed by Mr Allport and which I have been endeavouring to get ever since the inquiry closed ? Has he told the House why Mr Allport suppressed a lettci from a late steward of the Amokura who desired to be heard at the inquiry? Has Mr Fisher told tho House that he and Mr Allport knew of certain serious irregularities on the Amokura five years ago? And that he, Mr Fisher, promised if ever ho got to tho Treasury benches he would right matters? As for Mr Allport’s conclusions, surely no one will take than scriousiy. Foi an officer to be placed in the position of cha.rman of the inquiry to judge Ilia own department—well, it is ready too absurd. The boys, before bem B flogged, are not permitted to make any explanation. If they speak the captain shouts “silijuce.” Re six strokes being given, in many cases there have been nine and sometimes twelve. Mr Allport omits to say how many instructors hold tho boy down. It is four. 1 still say that the chiel officer is responsible for the floggings, because if he were not to report the boys so often the captain would-not require to flog. And whether the lash is given on the back or the buttocks matters not. The blood has been drawn and that is sufficient. It is untrue that all tho boys after being flogged went to their work. The boy who fainted did not do so, for it was not until next day that ho was able to stand the balance of his punishment. Whatever tho boys admitted at the inquiry was done so through fear, The way' in which the boys wore treated by those present was nothing short of a scandal. On many occasions, 1 protested to the chairman, but 1 was overruled at ail times. Mr Allport says the chief officer treated tho boys' well. How can he explain the reason ol every boy’s dislike to that officer? Rc the boys’ pay, Mr Allport does not say that tho hoys are charged for all goods lost or damaged, such as scrubbing brushes, clothing, etc., eto., so that in many instances they have little money to draw. As to Mr Young’s action in the House, I can see that he has been netted by the authorities. For what reason he has given the case away I do not know, but his statements are a tissue of misrepresentations. No assistance was given me on the Amokura to prepare my case. I was not allowed further than the gangway. Mr Campbell did not go back on me, but ;ave his evidence clearly. But many natters, we were nor, allowed to bring forward because they of too serious a nature. A Crown law officer was not present tq advise me, nor did anyone advise me. The Crown law officer was entirely antagonistic to me and all my witnesses. Mr Campbell did not refuse to give evidence until the captain started treating him badly, but he eventually came forward, and gave bis unshaken testimony. Mr foung knows very little of the case, and much less of the boys and the ship. Mr Fisher did not offer Mr Campbell an inquiry because I was present when it was asked for. Mr Fisher asked me not to press for a public inquiry, because if one were granted it was hard to know,where the matter would end. Certain facts in connection with the case he did not want the public to know of, otherwise the whole scheme would be burst up. 1 am still prepared to prove my case at a public inquiry or forfeit to the Waikato Hospital £SO worth of pro-perty.-—I am, etc., J. G. HARP. Franktnn Junction, July 14th.