MILITARY JUSTICE

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160726, 12 August 1920, Page 5

MILITARY JUSTICE

TAtiLIAMENT .11 AS DOUBTS. (By Telegraph—Special to ‘‘Jl era.-W'’ j, WELLINGTON. Angrmt 11. A case, whi< i li has formerly taken up public attention, was received in the House to-day when tin' Public...Petitions Committee reporfed in regard to a petition by H. 11. Thompson, who was convicted by Court Martial in New Zealand and served 93 days’ imprisonmont on a charge of knowingly making a false statement regarding tlie nobriety of a captain. The Committee recommended Thomp* sou’s petition for redness to the Government's favourable consideration. Mr ,|. M. Dickson. Chairman of the Committee, mentioned that it had reported favourably lo Thompson last session, but the Government did nothing. He regarded it as a serious case. 'Mr Veitch strongly condemned tho system of military court martial, which provided for an officers’ tribunal to hear a charge made by a private against an officer. In this case Thompson charged a Captain Hotop with drunkenness, and whether he was mistaken or not, it looked as if the officers bad stood together to protect a brother officer. Mr Young: “A conspiracy to protect a captain and to condemn 'Thompson !” Mr Veitch: ‘1 would not like to say that, but if you way so, I won’t contradict you.” Mr Isitt declared that the petitioner was victimised through a mistaken idea. ,It w;us the duty of officers to protect a fellow officer. Various members discussed the reported character of the two principal parties concerned, and the Minister for Defence promised to look into the case, having in mind what he had heard in rite llouse. The recommendation was adopted.