TAX EVASION CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 69, 22 March 1928, Page 7

TAX EVASION CASE.

Bargaining With Self-Confessed

Malefactors.

LABOUR'S CENSURE MOTION

(Received 11.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, this day. In the House of Representatives Mr. Brennan, on behalf of the Labour party, gave notice of a motion of censure of the Government in connection with the Abrahams income tax case at Melbourne.

The motion reads: "That the action of the Government, in participating in improper, unprincipled bargaining with self-confessed malefactors, is repugnant to right practice and not in harmony with correct and settled practice of Government in the administration of criminal law."

In the action in the High Court brought by the Income Tax Commissioners against the brothers Abrahams, in connection with alleged false returns, Mr. Justice Starke refused to make an order. The commissioner had stated that the defendants had arranged to pay £500,000 in settlement. The proceedings were adjourned sine die. In his judgment Mr. Justice Starke said the avowed purpose of the proceedings was to use a judgment of the Court for the purpose of executing and enforcing an arrangement with the defendants, and so long as that arrangement and purpose subsisted he was not prepared to give any judgment which would lend the aid of the Court to any such purpose.