THE AUCKLAND ARTILLERY TROUBLE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 25 October 1912, Page 4

THE AUCKLAND ARTILLERY TROUBLE.

ANOTHER SCENE

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND. October 34. The Auckland " Star" contains the following:—As indicated yesterday, affairs in connection with No. 7 Company of the Auckland Garrison Artillery Company continue to be anything but the happiest. As •previously stated, two of the commanding officers, Captain Pullen and Lieutenant Parker, have been removed without any explanation, and at tho present time Captain Pullen has his choice of two alternatives —to resign or to bo dismissed, without being given any definite charges to answer, without a court of inquiry, or court-martial. The next development was at tho Drill Hall last evening, when 50 or 60 members of No. 7 Company were on parade. Atfer drill, the officer commanding the Company addressed tho men. He called attention to an article which had appeared in yesterday's "Star," and said.that it contained an inference that tho Company was disaffected and suffering in efficiency and management. He wanted to know if any member of the Company on parado that evening had any complaint to make, or knew of any dissatisfaction in regard to the management of tho company.« Anyone desiring to say anything on tho subject was invited to do co. Tho men obviously hesitated to accept the invitation. "I take it, then," continued the officer, "that I am justified in reporting to the O.C. that there is no dissatisfaction and no complaint, and that the newspaper report in this respect is without foundation." It was at this stage that one of the Sergeants on parade spoke up. "Since you invite statements," he said, "it might be well to give an expression as to the feeling of the men." The Sergeant then proceeded to state that thero was dissatisfaction, that it was felt that there was inefficiency, and that the management of the company was not all that was desirable. " Do you speak for yourself, or on behalf of the company?" asked the officer! i "I am expressing the sentiment of the 1 company as a whole," was the reply. "And you would be willing to sign a statement to that effect?" "Yes, if you desire it." "How many men present to-night share the Sergeant's opinion?" • A call for a show of hands resulted in a large majority of those present holding up their hands in support of the Sergeant's statement. "I don't know whether there ra any use in my saying anything, for I feel that you have always been prejudiced against me," said a young man in private's uniform, "But I—" "Silence!" ordered the officer. " Well, sir, you invited us to speak," commenced the private, but he got no further, for he was prompt/y placed under arrest, relieved of his prim and bayonet, taken to tho guardroom and fined 7s. 6d. His written conviction -recorded : "That you did on the parade ground on Oct. 23, commit an act contrary to cjood military discipline, in that you did address the men on parade without authority from your commanding officer." Tho men on parado were thon dismissed.