WELLINGTON GARRISON OFFICERS' CLUB.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 13

WELLINGTON GARRISON OFFICERS' CLUB.

Sir, —I respectfully bog to ask that you will kindly allow mo space in your journal to refer to tho articlo published in this morning's issue respecting tho deadlock which is stated to have occurred between tho Defenco Headquarters and the Wellington Garrison Officers' Club. The article does not put tho position quite clearly, and I would liko to make the position quite plain, so that everyone may understand how things really are. Now, in tho beginning of that articlo, it refers to tho approval of rules by the Headquarters Staff,' therefore that shows that it must be tho official club, and, again, it refers to the lectures given at tho club, which shows that it exists for instructional purposes, and, thercfoft, is not a social club. If it were a Vocial and private club, why would there bo any need to have the rules approved by Headquarters? Xow for the facts which havo led up to tho recent happenings in connection with this club, to which your article has referred. About April or May, 1912, tlio Officor Commanding the Wellington military district wrote to the club, saying that all commissioned officers were eligible for membership without question. In April or May, 1913, a yoar later, ho again wrote in tho same strain, and prohibited a ballot being held on any application for membership. On May 12, 1913, this last letter was read to a general meeting of tho club, and immediately after the reading of that letter, not only was a ballot held, but tho officer applying for membership was "blackballed." On Alay 14, 1913, an order camo out in district ordors to tho effect that tlio ballot was forbidden on applications for membership, and, further, that all officers must be admitted. A short timo a.ftor this Major-General Godley, General Officer Commanding the Forces, mot th« tsnior officers of Uiis olub A and

told; them that all officers must ho admitted without question, or tho club must leave tho rooms provided frco by the Government.

Now, in your articlo, it says that tho club decided to leave the rooms. Precisely so, but it will be seen from what I havo stated thnt this alternative was never mentioned until after tho deliberate dclianco of tho authority of tho Officer Commanding the District. Now seeing that theso officers deiied their superior ofliccr, should the offenders or ringleaders not bo punished in souie salutary manner? Do we not fine boys and send them to detention for disobedionco, and I am not upholding tho action of tlioso who defy authority, but what about officers, who should and are expected to know better, and who do the same thing, t viz.: defy authority? Are they going to be allowed to go scot free? . It looks mighty liko it! Now, I know every detail of what lias happened in connection with this business, nnd I know, too, who spoke for and against the Officer Comanding tho District, and I am also acquainted with tho officer who was blackballed, and'l might say that I happen to know for a positivo fact that tho latter offered to resign his commission if it would savo any unpleasant trouble, but the General emphatically declined to entertain any such suggestion. The officer then asked that a court of inquiry should be sot up to inquire into his character, so as to enable anyono who desired to do so to bring any complaint as to' his character or fitness forward, but the General again declined to grant such a request. Doos this not show what General Godley thought of his capability, character, and fitness? Not a solitary reason has been advanced as to why this officer should bo prevented from further qualifying himself in his military work. What, then, is the real trouble? No one can tell. Is tho General Officer Commanding the Forces to decide who aro fit and proper per-1 sons to have commissions in* tho forces, or should this select body of gentlemen havo control ? Are those mutinous .officers (for that is what tliey really aro according to military law) fit persons to command others and ensure discipline? I havo had somo years' oxperienco in the Imperial Army, and, in my opinion, they aro not; and who is there who knows anything at all about soldiering who will make himself ridiculous as to say tliey aro? Now, the concluding paragraph of your articlo would 6eem to justify the action of tho club by saying that the Non-Commissioned Officers' Club have been given permission to refuse membership to anyone, but that thoir action must bo approved by Headquarters. Supposo thero is such a rule in existence, how can that possibly justify tho Garrison Officers' Club? Havo they submitted their action to Headquarters for approval? I know that they have not, and supposing that tliey had, would Headquarters, in tho light of what has taken place, havo approved of their action? Ido not think so, in view of tho position tho Department has taken up. Now, Sir, I think I have shown conclusively how things stand, and I think it would be a good thing if an inquiry were held into things in conncction with this club. I

could give a good many more details in connection with this club and the action of certain officers, but I will not hurt the susceptibilities of these gentlemen (?). Don't forget, "Obedience is the first duty of a soldier."—l am, etc., SPION KOP. September 18, 1913.