PRIVATE P. C. WEBB

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 158, 23 March 1918, Page 8

PRIVATE P. C. WEBB

TWO YEARS' HARD LABOUR

SENTENCE. OF COURT-MARTIAL CONFIRMED

.An .-.official announcement issued -by Defence Headquarters yesterday afternoon states > that 75,301 Private P. U. -.AVebb:has been sentenced to two years'

■ hard;labour bya district court-martial ? on a , charge of disobeying a lawful order.of liis superior ofEcer at.Trenthain i Gainp. The senteuce.has been confirm- ■/ ed by the General Officer Commanding .. the 'New Zealand. Forces. ■ Private Webb was charged under :. Section,9 of-the Army Act with "dis'.7 obeying in such a manner as to show •'/. wilful -.defiance of authority a lawful command given personally by his.superior officer in the execution of his office, in that he, at Trentbam Camp, i on March 11, 1918, when personally ordered to take his issue of .kit, re- . .. fused." f :It .appears -that the .imprisonment ,of thG member for Grey will render vacant his seat in Parliament. Clause 30 of tho Legislature Act provides:— Tho seat of'any member of Parliament shall become vacant . . . V if he is a public defaulter or is convicted of any crime punishable -by death or .by imprisonment with .hard labour for a term of two : years or upwards. f In the/event; .of, the' seat .becoming, ' vacant in this way the .late member, . while serving a term of imprisonment, j : would not be eligible for re-election.