THE STRANG CASE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10660, 5 August 1920, Page 5

THE STRANG CASE

FURTHER LETTER TO DEFENCE MINISTER. Mr William Thomson.. of Palmerston North, lias forwarded to the "Times" a copy of a further letter which he has forwarded to 'the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes. Minister for Defence, in regard to tho case of A. M. Strang, an alleged military defaulter. Referring to his previous letter and the Minister's reply, details of which were published in the "Times." Mr Thomson says the ■statements in his last letter were not his own, but a brief resume of th* cwdence at the court-martial supplied tot him by Strang's solicitor. Mr Thomson goes on to say that tho (statement that Stranc volunteered tor active service in 1916 was not questioned or oontrad'lcted at the court-mar-tial; also that Strang was not responsible for the department having failed to keep a record of enlistments at the time. He. notes tihe Minister's admission that Strang registered under the National Registration Act at Mercer, and says that Strang's file was produced in the court and contained no record of any application by_ him to change his address to Rakanui. It was explained to the court by tho Defence representative? that the change of address would be probably due to tho Defence authorities at Auckland having become aware of Strang having left Rakanui, and that they would alter the address without application. Mr Thomson oommente on tho fact that tho statements in tho ■Ministnr'B letter differ considerably from the. evidence given at the court-martial. He also submits that when a man (Strang) has volunteered, recistered, etc., that bo 'is not a shirker, and to put that man in gaol is a miscarriage of justice.