CAPTAIN SEODON’S CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1163, 25 October 1913, Page 3

CAPTAIN SEODON’S CASE.

CAREER AND RESIGNATION. The return asked for by Mr R. Scott (Tuapeka), giving full information • about the training of Captain Seddon and his resignation, was presented to the House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon. Contrary to expectation, the opportunity was not taken to discuss the matter. The return asked for information on six heads.

(1). Date of departure, and agreement made (If any).—The date on which Captain Seddon left New Zealand for Britain for the purpose of undergoing training iu connection with the defence system was March 23rd. 1911. The regulations for the Military Forces of New Zealand were not signed by the Governor until May sth, 1911. Prior to this date certain officers who had been sent Home for training had entered into an agreement not to resign their commissions lor a definite period after their return to the Dominion, but uo wiitten agreement was entered into by Captain Seddou,

(2) Date of relurr, aud duty assigned. Captaiu Seddon returned to New Zealand on August 26th, 1913. On May Ist he was appointed by general order, on his return to New Zealand, to take up the duties of officer iu charge of No. 2. area group, with headquarters at Paeroa. This appointment is an administrative appointment, and one which tbe Defence Department considered suitable, having regard to the merits and capabilities of Captain Seddon. (3) Time served ou return from Kuglaud.—-Captaiu Seddon ou his return to New Zealand did not report himself for duly until August 29th. He then applied for, and was granted, leave until September 12th, on which date he bad been ordered to report himselt to the officer commaudiug the Auckland district. He did not proceed to Auckland until further ordered to do so by telegram, arriving there on September 17th. The actual time, therefore, that Captain Seddon served ou his return to New Zealand was from September 17th to October Ist, 1913- . . .

(4)- Time off duty iu Britain. —The time Captaiu Seddon was off duty or on leave while in Britain is as follows ; —From the first week iu May, 1911, when he lauded in Britain, till October 3rd, 1911, he was abseut without leave and did not report himself for duty to the War Office until October 3rd, 19x1. From August till September 12th, T9i2, he was ill. He was also granted leave on a medical ce tificale from April, 1913, till June 30th, 1913, when he sailed for New Zealand via Vancouver. He did uot arrive iu New Zealand till August 26th, 19i3-

(5) Total amounts paid in Britain. —The fiual accounts have uot yet been received from tbe High Commissiouer, but the total amount hitherto paid to Captain Seddon from the time he left New Zealaud till he resigned is £1,423 3s id, made up as follows : —Pay, £866 13s 4d ; allowance, £391 9s gd ; outfit grant, £ls ; passage money, £l4O ; oversea allowance, £lO ; total, £i,4 2 3 3 s J d. (6) Date of resignation.—Captain Seddon applied to be allowed to resign first of all on September loth, 1913. As his application was not in order it was returned to him. His second application is dated September 19th, 1913, aud was gazetted ou October 16th, 1913-