THE MOTUIHI INQUIRY.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 March 1918, Page 4

THE MOTUIHI INQUIRY.

FINDING OF SECOND COUET. WELLINGTON, March S|

The following statement regarding the report of the Second Court of Inquiry on the Motuihi escape has been the Minister for Defence: While the 'Court is",, not satisfied that the district,. t'oolT a su'rncicnt interest in all matters YeTntirhg ]to the island,, -yet,, from. ,tl}p ..jffhole jof the evidence adduced," ~ tne ""'Court? is of that on .this .issue ~thei commandant, of Motuihi" Island Was c dP rcctly responsible to headquarters. Wellington, for the custody, of \ prisoners of war. - ,- •

, The Court reports that in Its opinion it was.not the duty ofColonel;Patterson to to ensure that proper prjecauttions were taken to guard,'the J : prisoners at Motuihi Island.' | i. ; ?

\ . The Court reports that'in itsiopinion Major J. Osburne-Lilley was "afrar'e of the inadequacy of the precautions for safeguarding the prisoners'; "thai st-was .his duty, as staff officer.,to take;.steps to remedy sue hinadequacy; that'he did take , reasonable steps to remedy the inadequacy, but that he failed in his duty as a staff officer in not bringing the fact of the launch being at the island to the knowledge of higher authority. He did, however, take such steps as were, in his opinion, necessary to see that the launch was in a safe condition while at the island. His failure was due to a misconception of the duty cast upon him. Steps have been taken to point out to Major Os-burnc-Lilley the Court's opinion as to his misconception of duty. The Minister stated, in conclusion: "I have examined the reports of the boards of inquiry, and also the evidence, and from my own knowledge of the circumstances have come to the following 'conclusions: 1. Major-Gener-eral Sir Alfred Eobin did not realise that the officer commanding the Auckland district considered Motuihi to be under General Headquarters and not under the officer commanding the district. 2. He committed an error of judgment in that he was too much impressed by the outside scare and did not give due weight to the warning about the conditions existing at Motuihi, and that he did not visit Motuhi in person to satisfy himself that adequate precautions were being taken to safeguard the prisoners on the island. These conclusions have been submitted to Major-General Sir Alfred Robin, and I do not consider further i action necessary "