I immediately referred the
question to the Crown Solicitor, who said it was a difficult question I
had raised, but ruled finally that being bound over to keep the peace was
not tantamount to a conviction within the meaning of the Regulations.
Whether this was sound law or not I cannot say, but it gave me the
opportunity to let Sergeant Kingston off easily. I at once sent orders to
his commanding officer to warn the sergeant to appear before me at the
Staff Office the next morning, so that I could deal with the case.

I thought the incident was over, and got ready for my dinner. As I was
entering the dining-room at the Club Sir Jenkin Coles, the Speaker of the
House, a close friend of Kingston's, spoke to me about it. I told him the
decision of the Crown Solicitor left the matter in Kingston's favour; he
had been ordered to appear before me in accordance with the usual custom
of the Service to be finally dealt with. Sir Jenkin asked me if this was
necessary. "No," I answered; "if Sergeant Kingston signs a statement to
the effect that he is satisfied with the cause of his being placed under
arrest and the action taken in this matter by the military authorities I
don't want to see him at the office." No sooner had I said this than Sir
Jenkin rose from the dinner table to return in ten minutes with a written
statement, signed by Kingston, to the effect that he was quite satisfied
with the action taken by the authorities. So ended this extraordinary
episode, but I was told by a good many friends that I had driven a nail
in my coffin as regarded the Commandantship. The appointment was
practically in Kingston's hand. But those friends of mine did not know
him.

General Downes left Adelaide. The Government gave no indication of their
intentions re the appointment of his successor. The mayor's official ball
took place. Charles Cameron Kingston was talking to the Governor. He
beckoned me and said: "I have just informed His Excellency that the
Government have appointed you a colonel and Commandant of our forces."
His Excellency warmly congratulated me. I thanked Kingston.

My vision was fulfilled.

CHAPTER VII

THE GREAT STRIKES

In 1890 the great maritime strike had its birth in Sydney. The original
strikers were the wharf labourers, who paralysed all business. The strike
spread rapidly to practically all the chief ports of Australia. The
Government at Sydney trusted more to the support of the merchants and
produce