IN THE HOUSE,

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1794, 5 July 1913, Page 5

IN THE HOUSE,

THE "PEACE" FOLKS' CHARGES. MINISTER'S ANSWER, Tho Ripa Island cases wcro again brought boforo tho House to-day, and attention. directed to tho imjiosition of a further seven days' detention upon several offenders for refusing to obey orders. Mr. G. W. Russell (Avon) said that ho had received a letter from Thomas Nuttall, wlio was ono of those sentonced at,Ripa Island to an additional term for refusing to clean guns. Tlio letter ran: "Without warrant of any description, we were summoned before our magistrate, Mr. T. A. B. Bailev, under circumstances which prevented tlio admittance of tho public. Tho whole Court was dominated bv tho presence of at least five military officers, besides numerous gunners. Wo had no hope of conducting a defence 011 the spur of tlio moment." Hero Mr. Russell interpolated that if tho young men had no opportunity of securing legal advice they were treated as ordinary felons, and not as persons under only qnasi-cletcntion. Their oiTenco was not criminal, and tliev should have had tlio chanco of consulting a solicitor. Tlio lottor continued;—"Thouali wo had I

the lieutenant's word that ho could not punish us in any way, yet ho confined ua m cells which were eventually condemned by Dr. Uphain, of hytt-eltou, and fed ua on rations which wore far from sufficient to keep away the pangs of huugfr. Wo received but two slices of bread, a very, small pieco of meat, with two potatoes,and ono pint and a half of tea." "is'ow, I feel sure," said Mr. Russell, "that it tho statements mado in this let' ter aro corrcct, tho Minister for Defenco has no sympathy with this kind of thing. If tliis kind of management is going on in connection with military detention, then tho Minister himself should bo tho first to put it down, and insist that thett* young men shall be treated properly." ite would ask tho Minister to havo a thorough inquiry into tho matter. While lie entirely supported tho policy of tho Government in connection with military training, ho ventured to say that if theso statements woro true, tho Governmentwould bo responsible for creating a very largo amount of sympathy with tho autimilitarists, which a great many members in tho Uouso ;would exceedingly regret. Hon. J. Allen's View. Tho Eon. James Allen said that ho was very glad tho hou. gentloman had brought the point up. Ho know something of what had taken place at ltipu, and, of course, there were two sides to tho question. Ho would put one side, and promise au. inquiry into tho other. _ Thcsa young men were committed to Eipa Island for not paying linos iirpo6ed for offences against tho Defenco Act. At ltipa Island they wero asked to do a certain amount of work, and sotiio had refused to do any work at all. In theso circnm-. stances, tho otlicers wore entitled to tako thorn again before a magistrate.", This had been dono, but ho knew nothing about tho method employed. Tho magistrate had committed them to another sevou days' detention. "Now," £aid Mr. Allen, "1 want to say to tho House that tho carrying out of this legislation is new and experimental, and wo must do the best wo can, as our experience develops. Ido not want to do anything to create sympathy with the anti-mili-tarists. On the contrary, I try to do all that I can to kill that sympathy. Tho trouble is that young men will neither do military duty nor any other, duty—thoy havo told mo so personally. But tho law must be upheld." There was no intention, ho continued, to provide" them, with insufficient food. On tho contrary, thoy had been so well fed that there was no single complaint that ho was awaro of. If tho food had been shortened, ho would inquiro into it. It may havo been dono under a misunderstanding. Thej would corrcct all theso eTrors so far a! they could. Mr. Hussell: Have I your assurancj that you will make a thorough inquiry? Mr. Allen: "Certainly." Ho added that -lie had intimated that he would ask a committee of tho House to consider certain questions in connection with the' administration of the Act.