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officers when conducting troops from one place to another." As a matter of fact, I was in Colonel Robin's office on the Sunday morning. On the Monday 1 reported myself to his Staff Officer; Captain Trask, who rang Colonel Robin up. Yet, that night; Colonel Robin says I had not even thought it worth while to report. Is that not interference, sir? I consider that that article alone is complete justification for my statement. I would like to read Out what the Post says in another article. It is headed "A Surprise Party. An Amusing Incident." It was not very amusing to me, I can assure you, sir. This interview was given on the Monday afternoon. It reads:— [Not supplied.] Captain Knyvett: Now, I consider that that shows I had complete and grave grounds for my charges. The President: As long as you can show that the charge you made is relevant you did not commit an offence, and the articles in the papers form reasonable ground. 1 dare say you were feeling very hurt at the time, and if the articles were a little on the wide side, then you may be excused. You have only to show reasonable ground that you believed your grievance to be true, and that you believed they were connected with the failure of your trip. Captain Knyvett: Well, I want to ask if the Court considers that ? The President: Ihe Court will not give a verdict. They can only call evidence, and report to the Convening Officer. Captain Knyvett: I took it that this Court said it would have the power of punishment. The President: No, I only said it would have the power behind. It is a Court of Inquiry under the Defence Act, 1908. Captain Knyvett: I want you to consider that question. Do you think I have shown sufficient or not? If not, I will have to call witnesses. I would like to ask you if you think it necessary? The Court deliberated in private, and upon opening the Court again, the President said : The Court has considered the matter, and you may call further witnesses if you wish to. Captain Knyvett: The Court does not consider it necessary for me to call any witnesses on this? The President; Yes. The Court considered that you had a double duty to perform to connect your statement with a bona fide desire to obtain redress. You have shown that you considered that you were injured by this action, and that you acted with a bona fide desire to obtain redress. They were not malicious statements. They may have been wild statements. Captain Knyvett: The Court says, then, I have given sufficient evidence to show that my statements were not made with any malicious spirit? The President: Yes. They Captain Knyvett: That disposes of that charge, then? The President: Of course, the Convening Officer may direct that we must take more evidence; but in the meantime we need not unless we wish. Captain Knyvett proceeded to deal with the second charge. The President: You believe the statement you made there to be true 1 Captain Knyvett': Yes, sir. The President: You believe the statement forming the second charge? Captain Knyvett: Yes. The President: How do you consider this affected your Wellington trip? Captain Knyvett: Well, sir, it is really an impression. The President: Your whole complaint is the non-success of your Wellington trip ? Captain Knyvett: No, sir. This is another grievance. I consider that these articles were belittling. I consider this belittling: "The situation would be laughable in the extreme were it not for the fact," &c. That is belittling, sir. The President: You considered that these articles were his? Captain Knyvett: Certainly I do, sir. They are under the name of Colonel Robin, C.B. The President: How do you consider that this affected your grievance 1 Captain Knyvett: With regard to charge 2, I consider that the bottom of the article stating that the trip had failed before it started not only killed the trip, but belittled myself. These remarks are the basis of my complaint. I want to know whether it is necessary for me to call any evidence. The President: The whole question is more of a personal question. Captain Knyvett: It made me look a fool. It could do nothing else but belittle me personally as the Officer Commanding the company. It belittled the object and the authority for the object under which we went down. The articles also certainly, and most distinctly, discouraged the men, and they certainly damped enthusiasm, sir. I would like the Court to give its ruling, the same as it did in regard to the previous charge. I have a soul of mine own, and do not desire to wash dirty linen by having officers giving evidence against one another. I would ask you to give your ruling. You will find it more necessary to rule on this than in regard to the previous charge which you have already ruled on. The President: In this case the statement you make is that the Chief of General Staff has gone out of his way to belittle and discourage the whole Volunteer movement, T take it, through your company? Captain Knyvett: Yes, and I can call other Volunteers, if you like. The President: You have reasonable ground? Captain Knyvett: Yes. The President: When you say the whole Volunteer movement you mean as affected by your company ? Captain Knyvett: But for my own personal influence the two companies, after the treatment meted, would have disbanded altogether. That was dampening enthusiasm, I contend. I con-