A SERIOUS CHARGE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 65, 11 December 1918, Page 4

A SERIOUS CHARGE

DEFENCE APPOINTMENT. A question regarding the appointment of Lieutenant Crampton, officer )n charge of the Wangamii Detention Barracks, was asked in the House of Representatives by Mr. H. E. Holland (Grey) during the debate on the third reading of the Appropriation Bill. Mr. Holland said that Lieutenant Crampton had been provost marshal at Samoa, and had become involved there in trouble regarding a native woman. He was court-martialled three times, ho escaped the more serious charge, but he was found guilty of having assaulted the woman. It was proved that lie had thraeued her with a stick. "For that crime," said Mr. Holland, "he was merely reprimanded and his return to New Zealand was recommended. He came back to New Zealand, and for some reason .best known to themselves the Defence Department placed him in charge of the Wanganui' Detention Barracks and gave him charge of the conscientious objectors and Other military defaulters. \Ve have since had the report of the Magistrate showing that Lieutenant Crampton, while in charge of the Wangamii Barracks, was guilty of almost indescribable .brutality so far as prisoners under him were concerned." Mr. Holland added that he wanted to ask for an assurance from the Government that this officer would not be retained in the Defence Department, that men would not be placed under his control, and that the officer would bo placed on trial for the offences of which ho had been guilty at AVanganui. The House ought to insist upon a full explanation of the affair.

Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christehurch North) said that he had previously asked if the men responsible for the cruelties at Wanganui Detention Barracks had been dismissed. The Minister of Defence had replied that they had been removed, but that he did not know if other billets hud been found for them. "I say that these men should be dealt with," said Mr. Isitt. "I am voicing the opinion of the great majority of the people of this country when I say that. Incidents of the kind that have been reported are a blot on the Defence administration. I do hope steps will he taken to bring this man to account." The Minister of Defence did not speak on the subject.