THE KNYVETT PROPAGANDA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 68, 29 June 1910, Page 5

THE KNYVETT PROPAGANDA

MEETING AT PALMERSTON NORTH. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston North, Last Night. A meeting of Knyvett sympathisers, held in the Municipal Hall to-night, was presided over by Mayor Nash, and addressed by Messrs Peacock, Armstrong and Black, the Auckland delegates. Mr. Steve Hunt moved a resolution, which was carried, that,'in the opinion of the meeting, it was the duty of the Government to adopt the legislative means necessary to provide a new and fair trial for Knyvett, and prevent a similar travesty of justice in the case of other persons accused of military crimes. During their speeches, both Messrs. Peacock and Armstrong repudiated, on behalf of the Knyvett Committee, any responsibility for' Mr. Black's statement at Wanganui' that Knyvett was doomed before the enquiry, while stating that they had faith in Mr. Black. Mr. Black stated that his authority was Captain Pullen, of 'Auckland, who said, in the presence of five people, that Captain Bosworth made the statement to him. Mr. Black wired during the day to Mr. Llewellyn, proprietor of the Royal Hotel, Auckland, for endorsement, and received a reply at the meeting that Captain Pullen had made the statement, as alleged, in his presence. .

A STATEMENT REPUDIATED. Wangianui, 'Last Night. Mr. Gerald Peacock, a member of the Knyvett Defence Committee and one of the speakers at Monday night's meeting at the Opera House, writes to the Chronicle as follows, under Tuesday morning's (late:—"The statement made last night by Mr. Black relating to Captain BosWorth has *cen denied >by the latter by telegram this morning. I am very sorry the statement was made, if not in accordance with fact, and wish to say th.it Mr. Black is not a member of.the Knvvett Defence Committee, and that neither Mr. Armstrong (secretary) nor myself had any idea that Mr. Black was going to make suoh a statement. The Defence Committee must repudiate all responsibility for the making of the statement, which was unauthorised, so far as they were concerned. Mr. Black went to Palmerston by eirly train this morning, so that I have hj" '1 no opportunity of obtaining any explanation from him on the matter."