MOTUIHI ENQIRY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 1 February 1918, Page 5

MOTUIHI ENQIRY

GENERAL ROBIN GIVES EVIDENCE. (By Telegraph—Pritess Association.) AUCKLAND, Last Night. , After an .argument the court retired to consider the points raised by Major Pullen, and on resuming announced that it disallowed all tlie objtctions. . Major / Pullen called General .ißobin, who stated that lie liad ordered the He ctfd no know who cancelled the order of the Defenct Minister, but Erdmamli Was not to be sent to Motuihi Island. When witness Motuihi during the scare he dictlh~scu#a jthe scare with Lieutenant-Colonel Turner. Ht did not know of thfe existence of Lieutenantz-Colonel Turner's request tor ten more, mei an<|. a subaltern,which had been forwarded to Gentral 'Headquarters by the District "Headquarters. Turner's commanding officer was O.C. o ithe district. Any" detachment of the district was under the control of the O.C. of the district. Wit ness femtmbered meeting Turner in Wellington in July, when, they discussed the question of economy. Turner was refered to the 0.0. of tihe to see what (conomy could be effected. At that time witnessed considered the guard was amply sufficient. The military policemen should have baen able to guard the prisoners on the island. He did not suggest to Turner that he should reduce the guard, but only that he should consider the matter. .The proper channel for communicating with Colonel Turner, $s of Motuihi, wias through the 0.0. of the district. He knew in November that Turner had a private launch. He suggested to .Turner that he should always take care that the launch's engines were put out of action when he was not using the launch. To the Hon. Tole: The discussion regarding economy was purely suggestive. He directed Turner to consult Colonel Pataerson. Turner had never informed him that the guard was insufficient. Witness would have supported Colonel Patterson if He ,as O.C. of the District, had increased the guards. The enquiry was adjourned until to-morrow.