F. E. N. GAUDIN'S APPEAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2585, 6 October 1915, Page 6

F. E. N. GAUDIN'S APPEAL

'A FAVOURABLE REPORT.

In Parliament:yesterday a report was received from, the Chairman of the A to; L Committee (Mr. J. H. Escott) on the ■ petition- of F.. E. N. Gaudin, of Auckland, praying for inquiry before a Judge or Judges of the Supreme Court, by a Select-Committee of the House, into, charges-of war treason of which he was convicted. • Tho report was to the, effect; that ; in .the opinion of the Committee, ■ Gaudin committed offences' against the | military laws and the' Government of 'Sam'oa by/removing gold in wilful defiance .of •a. proclamation issued by the, Administrator, and also by carrying correspondence which shad not passed the Samoan censorship. Such offences could not.be overlooked by the Jlihtary Authorities of Sanioa, .but the sentence imposed.by the. Military Court, ' that of imprisonment;for - five years with hard labour, was out of all proportion to the ; offences committed; ; .There was no- reason to suppose-that in\ acting us ho did the petitioner was ani.mated by ' any intention to assist , the enemy by any traitorous or disloyal purpose.; The evidence showed that the petitioner had ; suffered, . and' was still suffering considerably as a result of 'the misconception in tho public mind . that li o -has been/guilty ,of treason, which leelmg was largely caused by the severity; or toe sentence imposed. - llw Committee recommended that the Government should t-ako immediate steps to put on public record that the petitioner, while he' was gulHy of, and jvas punished for, breaches of military law, was in no way , guilty of either' treasonable' conduct or treasonable in- 1 tent, and .recommended the petition with minutes of the evidence, to the Government ; • for favourable consideration.

The report was received in the House without' discussion. r