A DEFENCE PROSECUTION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1574, 18 October 1912, Page 8

A DEFENCE PROSECUTION.

Ml!. HINOMARSII INDIGNANT. Mention was made by Mr. A. IT. Hindmarsii, in the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening, of a recent defence prosecution. He stnted that a youth was summoned, in error, under the Defence Act. On application to the Department he was referred t" a lieutenant who (old hi ill that tho prosecution would lie withdrawn and that he need lake no further trouble about it. Next day. according lo Mr. Jtindmiirsh, the lieutenant entered the witness-box at the Magistrate's Court and secured a conviction against the lad to whom he had promised that the prosecution would be withdrawn. Afterwards tie did not apologise, but only "said that lie had forgotten. Mr. Hindiuarsli declared that he would blazon this story all over Wellington. Also he woold see what tho Defence Department would* do with tliis officer, who belonged to- an influential familv. Mr. W. H. D. Bell said that ho knew the officer in question. • Mr. Hindinarsh: Yes. He, was in your office. Mr. Bell snid that the fact that, the officer in question was a member of a well- ! known family and related to one of the best Judges that New Zealand had ever had, supnlied.no reason against, his serving in the Defence Department. It appeared that this officer, had made a mistake, lint he had applied tp have tho case reheard so that the conviction- entored against the youth might be quashed. This hod been done. Mr. Hindinarsh said that lie had moved to quash the conviction. Mr. Bell said that the officer mentioned had attended tho Court to. assist. Mr. Hindinarsh should have dealt with this matter when it was before the Court. He had not said one word about-it then. Mr. Hindmarsh: You know what the Wellington paners are, don't yon? In nersonal explanation Mr,. Hindinarsh stated that he had nut some questions to the officer when the case was before the Court. It was his duty to. bring matters like this before the House. Similar happenings had gone unnoticed in the past. . .