§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydfil)I bog to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state 857 the number of occasions on which Private Rennie, of the Fife and Forfar Imperial Yeomanry, was put on fatigue duty during the training period at Annsmuir this year; whether two days after his arrest for alleged disobedience he was taken to the orderly room, when Captain Jury, the Adjutant, and Sergeant-Major Vine, the regimental sergeant, took the evidence of Lieutenant Hutchinson and, Sergeant Storrer against Rennie; whether, on Rennie asking for time to prepare his defence and lead evidence on his own behalf, he, was informed by Captain Jury that he would be allowed to do so all in good time; whether, despite this promise, he was on the following evening, without having had an opportunity of saying a word or leading evidence on his own behalf, drummed out of the camp; whether he was thus sent away without receiving allowance for his horse or his own pay, and had in consequence to borrow money to pay his train fare home to Methil; and whether he will cause inquiry to be Blade into Rennie's allegation that Sergeant Storrer had a violent dislike to him, and kept him almost continually on fatigue duty during the whole training, and thus provoked him into the alleged act of disobedience for which he was dismissed.
§ MR. HALDANEPrivate Ronnie was put on no extra fatigues beyond those in which all members of the corps took part. After Private Rennie had been remanded by his commanding officer for trial by court martial, the summary of evidence was taken down in the orderly room by the Adjutant. The Sergeant-Major would probably have been present, but was not concerned in the taking of the evidence of Lieutenant Hutchinson and Sergeant Storrer. Private Ronnie did not ask for time to prepare his defence, or to lead evidence on his own behalf. He had the opportunity of questioning the witnesses against him, and took advantage of it in the case of Lieutenant Hutchinson. After the summary of evidence had been taken Private Rennie was, as is customary, informed by the Adjutant that when before the court martial he would have an opportunity of saying anything, he wished in his defence. The application for trial was forwarded to the General Officer commanding, who considered that the case should be dealt with summarily by the Commanding Officer. The Com- 858 manding Officer decided to dismiss Private Bennie from the corps publicly, and as Private Rennie did not deny the charge, and as the evidence was quite decisive, that officer did not consider it necessary again to ask the accused if he had anything to urge in his defence. Private Rennie's horse allowance has been paid to the owner of the horse by the Squadron Commander, who holds a receipt for the same. Private Rennie's pay has been. remitted to him, and his Squadron Officer gave him the money for his faro (10s.). The money was not lent to Private Rennie. The Commanding Officer has inquired into the alleged animosity on the part of Sergeant Storrer against Private Ronnie, both amongst the officers and non-commissioned officers, and can find nothing to justify the allegation.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEMay I ask why Private Ronnie had no opportunity of laying his side of the case before the War Office?
§ MR. HALDANEHis case has been laid before the War Office by the hon. Member.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEBut cannot Private Rennie himself be allowed to state his case?
§ MR. HALDANENo; the whole matter has been carefully considered.