DISMISSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 186, 7 August 1936, Page 7

DISMISSED.

FROM CIVIL SERVICE.

Air Ministry Secretary Loses

Position.

CONDUCT DISAPPROVED

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

LONDON, August 6.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, directed that Sir Christopher Bullock, permanent secretary to the Air Ministry and a member of the Air Council, be dismissed from the Civjl Service. This step is the sequel to an official inquiry into discussions alleged to have occurred between Sir Christopher and Sir Eric Geddes, chairman of Imperial Airways, Limited, concerning the possibility of the former becoming chairman of the board of that company. The report of the commission of inquiry was published as a White Paper. It was signed by Sir Evelyn Murray, chairman of the Board of Customs and Excise, Sir Richard Hopkins, second secretary to the Treasury, and Mr. L. Granville Ram, second Parliamentary counsel for the Treasury. It stated that there was no question of corruption, but the conduct of Sir Christopher was at variance with the spirit of the code of the Civil Service, which precludes a civil servant from interlacing public negotiations with the advancement of his personal interests. The report outlined conversations which began on May 14, 1934, when Sir Christopher suggested to the Marquess of Londonderry, then Secretary of State for Air, that the inauguration of the negotiations for the Empire air mail scheme might be an opportune moment to confer a high honour on Sir Eric Geddes. Lord Londonderry asked wliat honour would be acceptable to Sir Eric, and Sir Christopher interpreted this as authority to sound Sir Eric, with whom he arranged an interview. A Certain Honour Acceptable. Sir Eric indicated that a certain honour would be acceptable if it were conferred in recognition of the linking up of the Empire by air. Sir Christopher then turned the conversation to his own career—a topic which the report considered was never absent from his mind.

Sir Christopher explained that he had risen as far as possible in the Civil Service and would like to join the board of Imperial Airways, with a view to succeeding Sir Eric as chairman. Sir Eric did not comment, but was inwardly disturbed by Sir Christopher's ambitions. Katurally he disliked the suggestion that' he should retire. Sir Eric asked Sir Christopher on June 21, 1034, why his name had not been included in tlip BirtMay honours. Sir Christopher replied that the honour would be conferred when the agreement was signed. To this Sir Eric heatedly replied that if it was a reward for negotiating the agreement it was out of the question and best be forgotten. Sir Christopher again raised the possibility of becoming chairman of Imperial Airways, though the subject was distasteful to Sir Eric. The report, in summing up, said the commission considered that the special, intimate relations at all times subsisting between the Air Ministry and Imperial Airways made it improper for Sir Christopher to initiate conversations with the company's representatives in furtherance of his desire to link his future with Imperial Airways. The fact that a contract of first importance was being negotiated afforded additional reasons for reticence and caution. The "Star" says Sir Christopher refused further to discuss the disclosures. He has no plans for the future, and loses a substantial pension through his dismissal as he had a salary of £3000 a year. • v , Sir Christopher, in a statement which he issued with a view to discounting the suggestions of mercenary motives, says: "I believe the remuneration of the chairman of Imperial Airways is £2000 a year, which is substantially lower than mine, although I am not certain on the subject as I did not seek to carry the matter to the stage where such concrete factors would emerge." The Press makes tfte report on the case of Sir Christopher the most prominent item to-day. The "Daily Mail" devotes a full page to it. "The Times" gives a full biography of Christopher and regrets that so fine' a record should end under a cloud, also that the public service for the moment should be involved in a certain loss of credit. The paper adds: "There is no alternative about a postman or a clerk who violates the law and no lighter punishment would be tolerable for a Ministerial head. The Government must be congratulated upon the determined manner fn which it has faced the situation."