THE TAKAPAU CAMP.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20085, 20 May 1914, Page 5

THE TAKAPAU CAMP.

THE REV. W. F. BOYS' REPORT.-

ACTION EY DEFENCE AUTHORI- - TIES.

''Per Eress Association.) PALMEIiSTON N.. May 19. , As a sequel to the report supplied to tho "press on the Takapau Camp arrangements, the Defence authorities have forwarded the following letter to the Rev. F. W. Beys:— " New Zealand military fores. From headquarters.' Wellington. Infantry Brigade, Palnxerston North, Jsth May, 1914, to the Rev. P. W. Boys, chaplain to the forces ?th (W.We> s Regiment, Wanganui.—With reference to .tiio report appearing under your * naino in the "Manawatu Evening Standard," dated May, 1914, will you pleaso inform me if you have ■ been correctly reported. If this -statement is correct, please explain your action in publishes, through tho medium of the press criticisms which cannot but be regarded as. subversive of discipline on matters con-^ nected wiih the conduct of officers--and others at the camp at Takapau. Your attention is directed to the fact that . the officers of the Defence forces tare in. time of peace subject to military law as laid down in section 15. Defence Amendment Act, 1912, as well as the provisions of 1913 from which the following is an extract (para. 207): —■ '"Any officer of the Defence forces proved to have written or to have instigated any communication to a. news- , paper on matters connected with the defence forces or any portion thereof, or crJling in question, or reflecting upon sny action of the Defence Department, or any act of any superior officer, is guilty cf insubordination, and is liabl* to ho dealt with accordingly." An earij reply is requested....H. B. Potter kMajot- 'New Zealand, S.C. Brigade Maojir. Wellington, Infantry Brigade-". .\rTho Rev. F. W. Boys/ reply » as f»*-. ■lows:—"St. Paul's Methodist Parsonago. Palmerston North, May l»tb, 19X4; —To' the headqijar'ters, WeilmKr ton Infantry Brigade. Major Potter.--Brigade Maior—Dear Sir,—ln. reply*vour memorandum dated May loth rfno reocrt appearing in the "Mafcawata Evening Standard," dnted 12th May, im 7 der mv name, is quite eorrectvr-X our* fftithfully, Fred W. Boy*."

The "Manaw^ttii Standard," referring v . to"the above, says: ,» It will be noticed that the portion of , the Act. quoted in the icomtounication toy the jW F>W. Boys precludes any coaalriuiSoation, favourable or otherwise, being made to the press. It reads: ;-. Any officer of the Defence Forces proved to have written or to hareJ instigated any communication, to a. newspaper ON MATTERS^OONNBOTED WITH THB DEPEN-CE" , FORCES, OR ANY PORTION / THEREOF, or calling in W . .guilty of insubordination. .. If this means anything it-means tEat every chaplain who has oommunioated * with the press in appreciation of- 1&& Takapau camp is equally liable with Mr Boys to <es plain his grave ; bread* of discipline. For all are guilty of insuV brdinatidn. In fact, Mr Boys was not the first to make his opinions known to>, the public. • ■ The Rey George Budd, Pijesbytenan. minister, of Fetlding, had lias impressions published in the "FeildingStar'* and the " Wanganui Chi'onicte" beforp , Mr Boys' fateful article appeared . i» the "Standard," and in order to discover whether he- also had received a communication from the Defence Departs iment demanding an explanation of his" action, a representative of the "Stand- , ard" interviewed Mr Budd -by telepilQne tliis morning, and discov©r.ed r t3ia^he lia3. ,' as yet received no sucih demtod, ' ' Kow -it TvilL he noticed t^ t^ e^* j tradrdirfary printed above'»' dated Friday, 15th May, ttad thus five ; days have since elapsedTh& public will want to know why the Defence authorities are picking arid .choosing as to which portion of the Act they will put into force. Are they going to court-martial Revs. George Bud 4 (Feilding), J. A. Luxford (Auckland)* W. H. Walton (Wellington), Ensign Garner (Dannevirke), and others who-, gave their impressions "of the Takapau. camp to newsnapere?

(A representative of the "Chronicle* referred this matter to the Hon. Jas. Allen last night, who assured Lim tnafc neither General Godley nor himself knew, 'anything about the correspondence untit.tfcev'.had seen it'to print that evening.. yi*Ed vV "-Ghi'on|w^V fV- W:,\ :t~':': ';■ .I'^

CASUAL .CAMP*t>J^BJnDEJ>S"

'i. ( -Ma/^^, -.-,;,: 'Fhe Takapau* casual camp broko "tffc? tins morning in wet weather, the Tern- -. lorials going north and south by-.tho ' o.arly trains. The Main Trunk ip«mi will connect with to-day's train at Jt^ilmerston and arrive home to-night.' Tiel VVairarapa and Wellington men will return by the ordinary express to-dsty-';'