THE TORCH CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 210, 24 January 1913, Page 5

THE TORCH CASE.

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright, Received 23, 10.5 p.m. London. January 23. Mr. Archer Slice moved the adjournment of the House to discuss the question of the Torch and the Prometheus. He complained of Captain Carver's supervision. The Admiralty did not know of the Torch's terrible disrepair at the time of the decision. The service would suffer if officers were dismissed because of their independence to state facts. Mr. Archer Siiee asked that the case should be reinvestigated. The captain had a splendid record, and should not be superseded merely upon the reports of newspapers.

Mr. Clinvchill said tliat tlu: dockyard and captain and officials had boon censured. Tlie Admiralty was not blameworthy. There was 110 reason for a searching enquiry. Mr. Archer Slice's information was of a partisan character. (Opposition cries of "No llattorv.") He displayed a portion of the Torch's bottom. Mr. Churchill said that Ministers were not going to be bullied or intimidated. Captain Carver had been superseded because he indicted 123 punishments in three months, and was unfit to be in sole charge of the happiness of the crew.

Received 24, 12.5 • a.m. London, January 23. Mr. Churchill continued that one of the Torch's racn had been illegally sentenced to a week in cells in the refrigerating room.