TAKAPAU SEQUEL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8737, 20 May 1914, Page 8

TAKAPAU SEQUEL

CHAPLAIN ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION. Press Association. PALMERSTON N., May 19. As a sequel to the report supplied to the press on the Takapau camp arrangement©, the defence authorities have forwarded the following letter to the Rev. F. W. Boys: New Zealand Military Force. From Headquarters, Wellington Infantry Brigade. Palmerston North, May 15th, 1914. To tho Rev. F. W. Boys, Chaplain to the Forces, 7th (W.W.C.), Wellington Regiment, Wanganui. With reference to tho report' appearing under your name in the “ Manawatu Evening Standard ” dated May, 1914, will you inform me if you have been correctly reported ? If this statement is correct, pleas© explain your action in publishing through the medium of th© press criticisms, which cannot but t>© regarded as subversive of discipline, on matters connected with the conduct of officers and others at the camp held at Takapau. Your attention is directed to the fact that officers of th© defence forces are in time of peace subject to military law as laid down in section 15, Defenc© Amendment Act, 1912, as' well as the provisions 1913 from which the following is an extract (Paragraph 207): “ Any officer of the defence forces proved to have written or to have Instigated any communication to a news pa per on matters connected with the defence forces or any portion thereof, or calling in question or reflecting upon any action of th© Defenc© Department or any act of any superior officer, is guilty of insubordination, and is liable to he dealt with accordingly.” An early reply is requested. H. R. POTTER, Major, N.Z.S.C., Brigade-Major Wellington Infantry Brigade. Th© reply of the Rev. Mr Boys is as follows: St. Paul’s Methodist Parsonage, Palmerston North, May 15th, 1914.' To th© Headquarters, Wellington Infantry Brigade, Major Potter, Brigade-Major. Dear Sir, —In reply to your memorandum dated May 15th, th© report appearing in the “ Manawatu Evening Standard ” dated May 12th under my name is quit© correct. Yours faithfully, FRED. W. BOYS.