CAPTAIN HOULKER'S DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16508, 7 October 1915, Page 2

CAPTAIN HOULKER'S DEATH

EXPLANATION OF ERROR. 1 i (From Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 6. In tho Legislative Council to-day the Hon. Sir Francis Bell gave an answer to the Hon. Mr Maginnity's question regarding the error and delay in notifying the relatives of the late Oaptain James Houlker of the death of that officer. Sir Francis Bell said the information sent wae correct in the first instance. The news, according, to the information of the hon. member, was that Captain Houlker died on a hospital /ship on August 10, and on August 11 intimation was given to that effect. Subsequently it was found that tho officer had left in a hospital ship that was not under the control of the New Zealand Government, and it was possible therefore that there might have been some error, so the information that he had left wounded in that fchip was then sent to the relatives. It was quite impossible to avoid occasional lapses of the kind, especially when tho wounded were stationed in ships not under the New Zealand Government's control. Everything possible was being done for the wounded,, and there was every desire to get accurate information to transmit to the relatives.