NEWTOWN PARK SCANDAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 212, 13 September 1901, Page 3

NEWTOWN PARK SCANDAL.

A REPORT AT E AST.

By Telegraph—Press Association,

Wellington, last night. The report of the Koval Commission which was set up to enquire into the conduct of the Newtown Turk camp during the recent ltoyal visit was laid on the table of the House to-dav. The Commissioners report that Newtown Park was wholly unsuitable for an encampment of mounted men at that time of the year ; that no sufficient measures were taken to provide rations for officers and men, and that there appears to havo been wholly insufficient provision by the officers of the day, or other orderly officers, to issue cooked rations at the camp. There was no inspection by the officer commanding the Wellington district of the site of the camp, or of the arrangements made for the comfort and convenience of the men and horses. The wishes and orders of tho Hofenco Minister wero that the men and horses wore to ho properly accommodated and rationed.

Although (says the report) tho demonstration in camp cannot in any way be justified, it may ho urged by tho men in extenuation that proper complaints had wholly failed to obtain any redress of their grievances. Such neglect of the men’s legitimate complaints tends to incite to breaches of discipline.

As to Colonel Teuton's words, “cowardly curs,’’ tho report says that it applied only to those present (if any) who had taken part in the demonstration.

in conclusion the Commissioners recommend—(l) That a full battalion stall' should he appointed for each battalion of mounted rilles as soon as possible ; (2) that sufficient proper cooking utensils should be issued to every country corps, and in future, at all encampments, rations should he issued uncooked to tho battalions and companies ; (3) that greater attention should he given to the training of officers of vohmtcors in staff duties especially those known as “ 1! " duties, or tho quartermaster department ; (4) that in future all largo camps shoukl be officially inspected hv an officer of the permanent staff, with a view to insuring that all proper an-aiigoiiients are made in connection with tiro camp prior to its occupation by troops.