REV. F. W. BOYS & TAKAPAU CAMP

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2153, 20 May 1914, Page 8

REV. F. W. BOYS & TAKAPAU CAMP

EXPLANATION ASKED FOR. (Br Teloeraph.—Press Association.) Palmerston N., May 19. As a sequel to the report supplied to the Press on tho Takapan camp arrangements, the IM'oitco authorities have forwarded the following letter to the Rev. F. W. Boys:— New Zealand Military Force. From Headquarters, Wellington Infantry Brigade. Palmerston North, May 15, 1914.. To the Rev. E. W. Bovs, Chaplain to tho Forces, 7th (W.tV.C.), Wellington Regiment, Waiiganni. With rcfcrenco to the report appearing under your name in the "Manawatu Evening Standard," dated May, 1914, will you inform ine if you have been correctly reported? If this statement is correct, please explain your action in publishing through the medium of the Press criticisms which, cannot but bo regarded as subversive of discipline, on matters -connected with the conduct of officers and others at the camp held at Takapau. Your attention is directed to tlio fact that officers of the fenco forces are in time of peace subject to military law as laid down in Section 15. Defence Amendment Act, 1912, as well as the provisions 1913, from which the following is an extract (Paragraph 207):—

"Any officer of the Defence forces proved to have written or to havo instigated any comiiumteatioli to a newspaper on matters connected with tho Defence forces or any portion thereof, or calling in question or reflecting upon any action of the Defence Department or any act of ■ any superior officer, is.,guilty of insubordination, : and .is liable to be dealt with accordingly." An early reply is requested. H.R. POTTER, Major, N.Z.8.C.. Brigade-Major Wellington Infantry Brigade. The reply of tho Rev. Boys is as follows: — St. Paul's' Methodist Parsonage,' Palmerston North, May 15, 1814. To tho Headquarters, Wellington Infantry Brigade. Major Potter, Brigade-Major. Dear Sir, —in reply to your memorandum dated May 15, the report appearing in the A'Manawatu Evening Standard," dated May 12, under my name, is quite correct. Yours faithfully, FRED. W. BOYS.