Military Law.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 23, 19 May 1914, Page 5

Military Law.

BOVS’ GAMP STRICTURES. THE AUTHORITIES REPLIED TO. IPkb Press Association. [ Palmerston N., May 19. As a sequel to the report supplied to the press on the Takapau Camp arrangements, 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, 15th May, 1914, to the Rev. F. W. Boys, Chaplain to the Forces of the 7th (W.W.C.) Regiment, Wanganui. With reference to the 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, please explain your action in publishing, through the medium of the Press, criticisms which cannot hut be regarded as subversive of discipline on matters connected with the conduct of officers and others at the Camp held at Takapau. Your atteir tion is directed to the fact that officers of the Defence Forces are in time of peace subject to military law as laid down in Section 15 of the Defence Amendment Act, 1912, as well as the provisions of the Act of 1913, from which the following is an oktract (paragraph 207) —“Any officer of the Defence Forces proved to have written or to have instigated any communh cation to a newspaper on matters connected with the Defence Forces, or any portion thereof, or calling in question, or reflecting upon, any action of the Defence Department, or any act of any superior officer, is guilty of insubordination, and is lialilo to be dealt with accordingly.” An early reply is requested.—H. R. Potter, Major N.Z.S.C., Brigade Major Wellington, Infantry Brigade.” The Rev. Boys’ reply is as follows: “St. Paul’s Methodist Parsonage, Palmerston North, May 15th, 1914. To the Headquarters, Wellington Infantry Brigade, Major Potter, brigade major. Dear sir,—ln reply to your memorandum dated May loth, the report appearing in the .‘Manawatu Evening Standard,’ dated 12bh j May, under my' name, is quite correct. — : Yours faithfully, Fred W. Boys.”