RIPA ISLAND CASES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1906, 14 November 1913, Page 11

RIPA ISLAND CASES.

DEFENCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT,

Tho report of tho Joint Defence. Legislation Committee upon the cases of certain military offenders detained on Riptt Island, about which complaint was made by Mr. C. R. N. Mackie, of the Peace- Council, was presented to,the House of Representatives, yesterday by Mr. C. E. Btatham, chairman of the committee,

The finding upon the matters mentioned in Mr. Mackle's petition is: "(1) That, with reference to punishment, while under tho regulations, tho young men concerned should have been confined in separate rooms or cells, tho oliicer-iu-chiirgG treated them with leniency, and did not- at first so confine them; that on their refusal to work the regulation referring to confinement was more closely observed; that the rations were reduced under medical advice because men doing no active workdid nat require as full a diet as those so employed." (2) "As the young niea refused to drill or work they were confined in their rooms, except for exercise."

i Dealing with further allegations made by Mr. Mackie, the eenmiittee finds: (J) "That complaints about j tion are. without justification, it having been certified to bo suitable by two qualified medical ofheors —the rooms being, in fact, officers' quarters during : the annual camp. (2) That the statement that- the rooms in which tho young men were confined were not properly ventilated has been absolutely disproved. (3) That, with regard to the sitting of tho Magistrate's Court at Ripa Island on July 2, 1913, as tho young men wore already in custody it Was hot necessary to servo them with summonses; that legal assistance was never refused them; that they had ample notice of the sitting of the Court; that they were allowed'absolute freedom in the matter of correspondence, and could, had they so desired, easily have communicated with their solicitors; and that the public wag not «sscluded from the Court. (4) With regard to the ca.se of William George Robson, at Lytselton, on July 24, the committee finds that the regulations .governing the proceedings were pre-* scribed and approved, and had therefore full legal force nud effect. (3) These regulations were duly lead over to tlio young men ou arrival at Bipa Island, and were posted up as prescribed, hut'. woro frequently torn down ami (hh.ccil and had to bo replaced." In view of tho findings arrived at on the several charges. Urn coNWirUoe reports that it has "no iccomraeudatifMi to make" njron the burden of Mr, MMk%'a_&ot!tioik