THE MOTUIHI AFFAIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1918, Page 4

THE MOTUIHI AFFAIR.

ANOTHER ENQUIRY OPENED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A court of inquiry to determine the responsibility of Colonel Patterson (O.C. the district) and Major Osborne Lilly, in respect to the Motuihi escape, was opened to-day. ' Colonel C. R. Macdonald, who was general staff officer at Auckland when the Motuihi camp was established in October, 1914, 'stated that at first the island was under the control of the district, but, owing to press of work, the control was handed over to the coast defence commander, who was subject to the general control of the district. The commandant of the island was responsible to the Defence commander, but district headquarters had the right to interfere if'it'felt in any way dissatisfied with affairs on the island. All matters affecting the guard and general control come under the district, but routine matti rs went direct to and from Wellington. The original letter of instructions to Colonel Turner contained a paragraph which y)aa struck out at headquarters, Wellington, to the effect that all the administrative correspondence was to be addressed to district headquarters. Witness considered the O.C. the district' was responsible: for the safeguarding of prisoners. Major Bamford produced a letter from Colonel Patterson to headquarters, Wellington, recommending, that the guard be increased; that the two naval officers recently interned be removed and placed by themselves, and that aliens be prohibited from visiting the prisoners. Colonel Turner gave evidence, supplementary to that given at the fihjt court, that he was responsible for Colonel Patterson's letter regarding the guard. He had made a verbal request to Major Walker before the paragraph was excised from the letter of instructions. Colonel Pilkington, then Adjutant-Qeneral, consulted General Robin. Witness never considered himself under the O.C. the district.