THE KNYVETT COURT-MARTIAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 4

THE KNYVETT COURT-MARTIAL.

ADJOURNMENT REFUSED. Tho Commandant of tho New Zealand Defence Forces, Major-Gonoral Godley, has refused the request for a month's postponement of the dato fixed for tho rc-trial of tho Knyvett ease (states tho Auckland "Herald"). Captain KnyveU's solicitors, Messrs. Pulleu and Dawson, have received tho follow* ing telegram from General Godley:— "Regret cannot accede to your request for postponement of court. Every consideration has been given to Mr. Knyvett, both as regards notice of trial and also as regards facilities for calling witnesses, and it is now impossible to alter dates, as case has been fitted in with other arrangements. Can sec you Grand Hotel, Auckland, G. 30 p.m. Friday, if you wish."

Tho cliairman of the Knyvett Dofence Committee, Mr. J. S. Diclsson, doilies that every consideration had been Riven to Captain Knyvett, liis request for tho trial to take place in Auckland and his subsequent request for an art' inurnment having both been declined. Tho accused was thus placed at a serious disadvantage. The trial was to take place, in Wellington, and he would have no little difficulty in getting a solicitor fully versed in the law applying to the case to represent him there. •Moreover, tho trial being in Wellington, tho accused would bo handicapped in tho matter of calling extra witnesses, which might he necessary.