WANT OF TACT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2809, 29 June 1916, Page 6

WANT OF TACT

4 OFFICERS AND SERGT. MAJOR SEATS IN A TRAIN AFFAIR AT LAMBTON STATION. The Defence Minister read in the House yesterday tho report of tho Court of Inquiry on a certain incident which occurred at Lambton Railway Station on June 11. It was alleged by Mr. Hindmarsh, who asked a question in the House about the matter, that two officers, Captain Fraser and Lieut. Potter, ordered Staff Sergt.-Major Archer out of a first-class railway carriage, saying that the carriage was reserved for officers. It was further stated that Archer got up and walked out, and that as there was no sitting accommodation on the train, ho quitted tho train at Ngiihauranga. The suggestion was made that the officers' conduct not worthy of gentlemen.

Tho Court of Inquiry was composod of Major E. Neavo, Essex Regiment; Captain ' Card ale, N.Z.S.C.; and Captain Bradley, R.N.Z.A.

Tho Court ijas instructed to inquire into the actu.a.l events which took place on Lambton Station, concerning Staff Sergt.-Major Archer being ordered out of a first-class carriage, in order to make room.for Captain Fraserand Lieut. Potter. Tho Court were also asked to answer the following questions:— (2) Whether there was any insubordination on tho part of Sergt.-Hajor Archer?'

(3) Whether or not there was any firstclass compartment for u.c.o.'s on the train?

('t) 'Whethor Staff Sergt-Major Archer complained or discussed the alleged incident with any civilian or members of Parliament, instead of through tho proper military channels? The Court was instructed Bnally to inquire closely into the conduct of the two officers especially, and also into the conduct of any officers who > were concerned in tho alleged incident, both as regards their conduct as officers and gentlemen, and more particularly in relation to tho aittitude of Staff Sergt.-Major Archer.

Tho answers to the questions were as follow:—No. 2: Tes, in the words used in addressing Captain Fraser. (3) No. (0 Yes. The- offonding words used by Staff Sorgt.-Major Archer were: "When you want a seat, don't, send a policeman to turn me out," or words to this offect.

■The Court stated its opinion on the affair generally, as follows:— "The whole incident appears to have been the. outcome of a certain amount of want of tact on tho part of the officers, and ignorance as to how to (Teal with a situation of this sort on their side, an apparent resentment on the part, of Staff Sergt.-Major Archer in receiving orders from a ice.-corpl. of police, who, however, was undoubtedly acting on the order of the officers, as well as on their -piilitary police instructions. "Wiitti reference to the conduct of Captain Fraser, this officer appears to have acted in a manner showing a certain, want of tact in dealing with the situation. The evidence tends to show symptoms of a slightly aggressive manner towards the Staff Sergt-Major before the actual conversation between officers concerned and Staff Sergt.-Major occurred At the same time, there is nothing to show that he acted in any way 1.0 tho prejudice of an officer and a- gentleman. .With reference to the oonduct of Lieut. Potter, the remarks as to the conduct of Captain Frnser apply to this offiosi: as regards his w,ant of tact and manner.. This officer had already lound a se*t for himself. It was his, anxiety to find a seat for Captain' Frase? which caused him to give the order which led to the incident. The evidehco equally shows in *his case that there was nothing in his conduct to his prejudice as an. officer and a gentleman. , "With reference to tho conduct ot btaft Sergeant-Major Archer,' this n.c.o. was evidently nnawaro of any particular carriage boing reserved for officers or war- | rant officers Tvh.cn ho first took his scat in tho first-class carriage. His manner to tho lance-corporal of police, when tho latter informed him that the carnage ho was in was for officers only, and another carriage was reserved for warrant officers and staff. sergeant-majors was not conducive to discipline, as this lancecorporal was only carrying out his duties, <and it was immaterial whether this mui-t;u-y policeman was acting on the orders lof "the officers concerned or nnder the (instructions issued to the camp mili'tary polico when on train duty. As regards Ms conduct towards Captain l'raser and Lieut. Potter, his Jiehaviour was all that could bo desired up to the tune he was actually leaving tho carriage. Hi 3 remarks, however, to Captain Fraser on leaving tho carriage were insubordinate and extremely reprehensible in a 1i.c.0. of his 6ervicc and training. His leav■nig tho train on the excuse of want of seating accommodation, which, in any case, evidence shows was not the fact, was quite unjustified, as was his subsequent action in discussing the matter with civilians, and Mr. Hindmarsk in particular, being a. uiembcn of Parliament. His evidence shows that he was aware of the proper, military channels through which any complaints could be made." , . Colonel Tate, Adjutant-General, m a report to tho G.0.C., states: "I do not concur with the. finding of tho Court that thcro was a certain want of tact evinced by Captain Fraser and Lieut. Potter, in dealing with the situation, as far as T am in' a position to be guided by the actual ovidenco. This may, perhaps, be the Court's impression from tho dem(anour of the witnesses more than from the actual evidence in words." Commenting on the incident and the report the Minister said: "I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing very much in it either way, and that it is best to leave the thing with this reading of tho finding of the Court of Inquiry as I have read it to the House. It appears that it all , arose through there not being on the train sufficient first-class accommodation for officers anu warrant officers (who are entitled to firstclass accommodation). There was not even enough for officers, some of whom had to travel in a second-class compartment.

Mr. Himlmareh: Do you propose to take any further action against Archer? Mr. Allen: No, I don't propose to take any further action.