TERRITORIAL STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 21 February 1913, Page 5

TERRITORIAL STRIKE

COURT OF INQUIRY IX MASTER-TON.

SOME INTERESTING EVIDENCE.

; A Court of Infuiry into tho Terntorial incident that occurred in Masterton on November 29th last was held in the Drill Hall last evening. ' The Court was composed of Lieut.Colonel Tate, Brigadier-Major Ham- . ilton (Infantry) and Brigadier-Major Foster (Mounted Infantry). Lieut.-Colonel Tate stated that the inquiry was held on the order of the Ollicer Commanding the District. Me read the order by which the inqu'.i. was held. Tfie President stated that tho inquiry was not held to investigate a crime, or accusation against anybody. The Court was ibeing held the recent incident, and if any grievance existed. It It* had been decided to admit tho press, as it was desired that the matter be given the fullest publicity. He pointed out to the men that they would lie examined upon oath, hut it was not proposed to call all ot tlu-m. LIEUT. WILSON'S EVIDENCE. The first witness was Lieut. Edmund R Wilson, tie stated that on tho Saturday afternoon, Lieut. Hirschber»- had handed him a note to ine effect that on the night previous eighteen .men and one non-com. had marched oil' parade. He iinmcdiately reported the matter to Major Skey, and on his order held an inquiry The result of the inquiry was reported. The President: I see by the c::i«e sheet that most of the men aic reported of good character. Lieut. Wilson stated that they wtrc The President: What did you discover to be the cause of the trouble? Lieut. Wilson said the men had all pleaded guilty, but under provocation. They said their grievance was m respect to Lieut. Hirschberg. Some of them blurted out remarks, but witness would not hear them. As far as witness could understand, the trouble had started from the first time Lieut. Hirschberg appeared on p;;r----i-do Witness was first aware that Second Lieut, Hirschberg was gazetted on 13th September. Lieut, Hirschberg did not report himself to witness until about a fortnight prior to November 2Sfth. Tho President: In the meantime you did not make inquiry as to what had eoime of him? ~.-,. Lieut. Wilston: I made no definite inquiry, Continuing, witness stated that he was verbally informed in September by the Adjutant that Lieut. Hirschberg had oeen posted to his company. It came to witness knowledge after the posting of the crazette in November that the men strongly resented the appointment of Lieut. 'Hirschberg. Witness mentioned the matter to the Adjutant, and also wrote- to Major Skey. about a week after writing to the latter officer, he saw him personally. Major'Skey made reference to. the letter, hut refused absolutely to discuss the matter with witness. Witness spoke to him again a little later about it, but he again refused to discuss the matter. Witness was confident that the men would not behave themselves if Lieut. Hirschberg came on parade. Generally they resented the whole matter. It had come to the knowledge ci the men that Lieut. Hirschberg had applied for a commission in the Senior Cadets, and had been refused. This was one of the grounds for resentment. The President: This does n .it seem sufficient reason for the men to go off parade. They must have further reasons than that. Lieut. Wilson stated that nothing further was done in the matter Until November 29th, when the men marched off parade. Lieut. Hirschberg reported the incident to witness on the Saturday following the parade. Witness held a . company orderly room, and the matter was reputed to his superior officer. The President: Seventeen of the men were reported, and two were riot. Why was that? Lieut. Wil§on stated that only seventeen men had been reported to him by Lieut. Hirschberg as going off parade. The remaining two were ieported after the first inquiry, and he held another orderly room. Witness ■was satisfied in his own mind that the reporting of only seventeen men on the first occasion was purely a clerical error.

The President: I want you to tell us why, on the night in question, both you and Lieut. Morton were absent from parade.' Lieut; Wilson stated that in the previous week Lieut. Morton had applied for leave for several months. This bad been refused by the battalion officers, but as Lieut. Morton, relying 'upon leave being granted, had made certain private arrangements, witness granted him leave for one night himself. A® far as witness was concerned, he had made up his mind to give up Territorial work. He bad sent in his resignation to Major Skey. There had been a good deal of dissatisfaction over certain things. He was sore, and wrote to Major Skey, asking for leave until certain things were rectified.

The President: Because a. man is sore, that is no reason why lie should not be on parade. I want to be perfectly fair to everybody. 1 want you to tell us why you were not on parade. If a private left parade because lie was -.sore, that would not prevent his name being sent on to the police.

Lieut. Wilson 'said he was not en parade on account of certain personal dissatisfaction, which had nothing to do with Lieut. Hirschberg. Hisresignation had been -sent in some time previously, and had not been accepted. He wrote to Major Skey, asking for leave, and expressing the hope that the matters concerning which there was dissatisfaction would be cleared up before its expiration. This leave was refused, and witness remained away from parade. Immediately after the incident of November 29th, witness saw Major Skey, and asked that his resignation bo withdrawn. At this interview, witness received authority to act as officer commanding the company. The- President: But had pot documents come to you ? Were you not de facto the officer commanding? Lieut. Wilson 'replied that be was not. There was another jofficer in the company senior to himself. The President: Who was that? Lieut. Wilson: Lieut. Morton. The President: That was one of the reasons for your dissatisfaction? Lieut. Wilson said that was so. Asked by the President concerning Lieut. Hirschberg's appointment, witness said the appointment came to him as a. surprise. He had not previously known Lieut, Hirschberg by sight. He had been assured by Lieut.Colonel Charters that offieers would not ho appointed without the officer

commanding being consulted. Witness knew nothing of the appointment until the gazette notice appeared. The President: It has been suggested that social or political influence has been at work in connection with Lieut. Hirschberg's appointment. Do you know anything of this? Lieut, Wilson replied that ho was not aware of either social or political influence being used. He had heard rumours, -but" that was all. _ The President: 1 might say straight away that it has been .suggested that von "knew that the men were going off parade. Did you speak to any of the ■men about Lieut. Hirschberg before tho incident? Lieut, Wilson: Some of the men came to me about it. They resented tho appointment. The President: What reasons c'.ul tliev give? Lieut WiNon : Some of them regarded it as a personal matter. Some of them mentioned the fact that he had been refused :v commission m the Senior Cadets. They made reference t„ his vouth, and seemed to resent an appointment being made from the position of a private in the Ambulance to that of Lieutenant in the Infantry.

' '|V' President: Did they suggest social or political influence? Lieut. Wilson: No; not to ne. The President: What was your attitude, when they came to you v. ith their complaints'' Witness stated that lie listened to them to a cerbin extent, and rt-poiled the matter to Major Skey, bait the Major refused to discuss the -n.i;ter with him.

The President: Did you gather from the men that they would be likely to refuse duty? Lieut. Wilson : Not exactly from the men; but 1 gathered inenrectly that such would occur if Lieut, Hirschberg rcunainod an officer of the Company. The President: Were there any signs of unrest on the occasion of Lieut. Hirschberg's appearance on parade on November 2nd? Lieut. Wilson: Xo; but there was a. feeling of discontent running through the Company. The President: In view of this fact, did you consider you were justified in allowing Lieut. Hirschberg to appear upon parade alone? Lieut, Wilson:. Ye*: because Lieut. Hirschberg had assured me that ell resentment had disappeared.

The President: Did vou know I hat the resentment bad disappeared? Lieut, Wilson: He assured me that he had had conversations with the men. I personally thought that he was a little sanguine.

Brigade-lMajor Hamilton :, Did you know "that Second Lieut, Hirschberg had been made a Lieutenant in Genoral Orders? Witness: 'Yes. Did the men of your Company know this? . Witness: Yes; a good many of them did. Do you know how they knew? Witness : I presume they got it frcm General Orders. Did yon show General Orders to anv men of vour company? Witness : Yes : I showed them to tne o.f my Sergeants, in the usual manrer Several of mv men asked if this w-a-- the case, and I toM them it was. T told them I thought it was an error. T mentioned the matter to Sergeant Lee. A PRIVATE'S EVIDENCE.. Fred G. Graham, formerly a nomcom., but now a private, on oath, deposed that he was on parade on November 29th. _ The President: Why did you walk off parade? Witness: May I ask a question. The President: Yes. Witness: Can a private work up to a Lieutenant? The President: I was a private. The President stated that oncers would require to do'- service m the ranks in future.

Witness said there was a grievance that a man from another corns had been made a Lieutenant in the Company He did not know before the parade that there was going to be- a strike. ~ The President: Had you any ejections, so far as Lieut. Hirschberg was concerned? , Witness: Personally I had »ot. l did not think he should have been appointed from the Ambulance Corps to be an officer in our Company. I thought there were other men more entitled to the position. I beard the •men talking of going off parade just before the parade started, and I decided to join with the rest. The President: Is there any '.t,-ier reason why you went off parade? Witness: No. ANOTHER PRIVATE. Private A. V. Dixon, on oath, stated that lie walked off parade because he considered that the officer in charge was not fit for his position. He considered that there wero men in the corps who were more fitted to be Lieutenant than the man who was in charge. It had been arranged for fully" a week prior to the parade that there would bo a strike if Lieut. Hirschberg went on parade, alone. Brigade-Major Hamilton: Did >ou tell your company officer of this? Witness stated that he did not. Was it not common talk in the town ?

Witness: Tt got about. The President: If Lieut. Wilson had been'on parade, would there have been a strike? Witness : I don't think so.

The President: Do you think there was any social or political influence at work in the appointment of Lieut. rTirschberg? ■Witness: Net that lam aware <A. Brigade-Major Foster: When did you first hear of Lieut. Hirsehberg's appointment? Witness: Some time 'before the strike. T don't know how long. The President: Have you any giievance?

Witness said 'he thought that men who voluntarily remained in the ranks should receive commissions before outsiders.

The President assured the witness that there was ample prov.sion fcr this. PRIVATE BAREPrivate George Barr, on oath deposed that he walked off 'i. ; rado because he considered that f man had been placed in-, charge who was not fitted for the position. Th? ofiker in question was a private in the Amhiilpuce Corps, and witness considered there were others more entitled to promotion, ißrigade-Major Hamilton : When did von know there was .going to be a strike? Witness: Some time before it occurred. Did yon tell the officers about it? Witness: I did not. But I believe they were in the know. Why do you «ay that, when \q\i did

not tell them ? Witness: It was common talk. Everybody seemed to know. But you did not tell the officers? .Witness: Xo. The President: You did not suggest that Captain Braddell and Sergei tMajor Domney knew about it? Witness : I do not say so. Would the (strike have occurred had Lieut. Wilson been on parad^r Witness: I don't think so, THE PEST OF THE M'KX. The remaining sixteen men who bad gone off parade were then brought into the Court-room, and the evidence given by Privates G"aha.u<, Dixon and Barr was read to them. The President asked if any of the remainder of the men hud anything further -o say. There was no response.

j The President said one of the \» itnesses had asked if a private could become an ollicer. He (the President) stated that an officer would icquire to pass through the ranks. It was quite possible for any private to work himself up to become an officer. .It was only a question of education and ability, and any man could educate himself. The whole or the appointments went before the officers. The men were then told that their presence that night would count as a parade, and they were dismissed. MAJOR SKEY. Major H. F Skey, on oath, deposed to the ••'' tter of the men going oif parade having been reported to him, and the holding of an orderly. So far as Lieut, Hir-seb berg's appointment was concerned, it was made on the recommendation of the Adjutant. Captain .Braddell spoke strongly in favour of Hirschberg, and Major Cook, Commander of the Field Ambulance, in which Hirschberg was a private, had supported the recommendation.' Witnes, then recommended the appointment. He had no personal acquaintance with. Hirschberg, although he knew of him by hearsay,. The President: It has been suggested that social or political inrluence was used.

Major Skey: I give that a most emphatic denial. I have no interest, iit making recommendatums other than for the good of the system generally.

In'answer to a question by the President, witness stated that about a month after Lieut. Hirschberg's appointment Captain Braddell had told him that Lieiit. Wilson oojected to the appointment. Lieut. Wilson, had also spoken to witness, but witness would not allow him to discuss the subject. Witness heard nothing of the proposed strike among the men. Witness gathered from Captain Braddeil that the objection was a personal one on the part of Lieut. Wilson, and possibly one or two of the officers. Witness did not know that there wis any unrest among the men. MAJOR COOK. Major Cook, on oath, deposed that Lieut. Hirschberg had been a private in the Ambulance Corps, of which he was the Commander. He knew of no social or political ; diueiice being at work. Captain Braddell had asked hint if Hirschberg, who was a private in his command, would make a suitable officer, and he replied that die would, owing to his exemplary service •i:i the Ambulance Corps and to his Laving been an officer in the Wanganui College Cat!;"':; » CAPTAIN BRADDELL.

Captain Braddell deposed that he was absent on leave when the incident of November occurred. So far as I.h-ut. Hirschberg was concerned, witness did net know whether he asked Hiirschberg if he would be an officer, or Hirsoh.berg asked him. At anyrate, he found that Hirschberg would like'to become an officer. He therefore inquired from Major Cool>, his commanding officer, whether he could recommend him. Major Cook sa:d he would have no hesitation whatever.in recommending Hirschberg. Witness then recommended the appointment, and introduced Hirschberg to Major Skey. ■ The President: Is it not a fact that some difficulty is being experienced in procuring officers? The witness replied that it was, and he was looking for officers when Lieut. Hirsohberg was appointed'. The President: Did it not'occur to you to ask Lieut, Wilson if there were anyjnen in his company suitable for officers? Witness: Tt did not. I did _ not speak to Lieut. W r ilson on the subject.

In answer to a further question, witness stated that no social or political influence', was used in the appointment. LIEUT. HIRSCHBERG. Second Lieut. Ivan Hirsehberg. on oath, deposed that he was in command of the company when nineteen men walked off parade. Witness believed they went off parade because he was a junior. Witness only guessed at this. No impertinence whatever was shown by the men. As soon as witness appeared upon the scene, the men turned round and walked off. From their manner, witness understood it was him they objected to. Witness was not aware before that night that the men objected to him. He had not 'previously handled them, having been only once previously on parade. Witness had six years service in the School Cadets and two years in the Wanganui College Cadets. In the latter he had held the position of Acting-Sergeant, though he .had passed no examination. He had been several months in the Ambulance Corps before he was appointed. He knew of no social or political influence being used in his behalf. When he was in the Senior Cadets, he asked Captain Braddell to recommend him for a commission. The appointment was not made, because Lieut. Welch objected. The next that witness know was that he had got a commission as supernumerary Lieutenant in the Second Battalion of the Ninth Regiment. Witness had not asked for this commission. Witness had attended a class of instruction nt Palmerston North. .

Brigade-Major Hamilton: Tt has been stated that you were in the habit of throwing ridicule at the Volunteers before the Territorials came into existence. Is that so, or is it not? Witness: It is not so.

Tn answer to Brigade-Major Foster, witness stated that lie was not

aware prior to the parade that the men objected to him. LIEUT. WELCH. Lieut. Welch, on oath, stated that he was an officer in the Senior Cadets. He had absolutely nothing against Lieut. Hirsehberg. He was called to the drill-shed by telephone. Captain Braddell and" (Major Cook were hi.the room, and they said they, supposed he had no objection to Lieut. Hirschberg's appointment. They asked if he would sign a paper recommending the appointment. Witness said he ■would not. ' Captain Braddell and Major Oook had already signed the paper, and witness thought they should first have consulted him. This was why he refused to vsign. The President: They took too much for granted.

Witness: That was so. I did not wish an appointment made to my company whom. I did not know, an<;l without my first .being consulted. I had nothing agaifnst Hiirsehberg personally. _ This concluded the evidence.

The President stated that the papers would be sent oh in due course to the Officer Commanding the District, and he would do what he thought fit in the matter.