A STARTLING RUMOUR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 17 July 1917, Page 5

A STARTLING RUMOUR.

AN ALL-BLACK SHOT FOR DESERTION. An interesting question was put to the Minister for Defence by Mr. Payne, member for Grey Lynn, in the House on Friday: —’“Whether he had heard of the rumour which says that one of the Maoriland’s heroes has been done to death by British rifles for desertion, and if the rumour is true, does he approve of this arbitary shooting of our men?”

In a note, Mr. Payne states: “The circumstances of the case are said to be that the victim, a member of the last All-Black team, became enamoured of a, French lady, and used to take every opportunity of visiting her. On the last occasion it is stated that his company was ordered out of the firing line for a three days’ rest, that the company was ordered back into the firing line after only two days’ respite, and in consequence the Victim is said not to have returned by the time his company was ordered back into the firing line, his absence was noticed, and he was tried for desertion, court-martialled and shot. The man was no common deserter. Doubt-

less he committed a grave dereliction of duty, and suitable punishment should have been given him without resorting to the extreme measure of militarism of shooting a man who was only absent from his company during a time when he knew that they were resting from the arduous and trying life in the firing line.”