ATTACK ON ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8645, 23 August 1913, Page 5

ATTACK ON ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

MR IRVINE'S REPLY

MARCONI RETAINER NOT

BINDING

(Received August 23, 9.55 a.m.)

MELBOURNE, August 23

In the House, the Hon. W. H. Irvine (Attorney-General) replied to Mr Eraser's attack regarding his (Mr Irvine's) connection with the Marconi Company. 1 He said that Mr Fraser seemed fbo think that the acceptance of a retainer involved .some confidential arrangement between, the company giv-, ing the. retainer and counsel accepting it, but there was, nothing more absurd than such a belief. A general retainer did not bind counsel as regards the acceptance of a brief if there was any reason whatever, public or private, which would embarrass him. He had n6 more relations with' the Marconi Company than. with other gentlemen who had given, him general retainers, and no duty toKhem except that he had to give them notice ( before he accepted a brief in an action against them. The point raised by Mr. Fraser involved the whole question that a man could not accept any position in a Ministry unless he altogether divested himself of any interest of any kind which might come into conflict with any decision he might have given as a Minister.

Mr Fraser said he considered that the Marconi Company had a just claim on Mr Irvine's services, not merely that h« had to give notice before he appeared against the company.

Mr Andrew Fisher said the House should have decided whether Ministers ought to allow their private interests to affect their public duties.

Hon. J. Cook (Federal Premier) declared that Mr Irvine had absolutely cut his connection with the Marconi Company and returned his briefs.

The Hove* adjourned till Tuesday