INQUIRY INTO ADMINISTRATION OF NORTHERN TERRITORY RESUMED

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7338, 13 February 1920, Page 3

INQUIRY INTO ADMINISTRATION OF NORTHERN TERRITORY RESUMED

Dr Gtfruth's Interest in Mining Venture

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

Melbourne, Feb 12 Mr Justice Ewing resumed the Darwin enquiry. Dr Gilruth was examined. Mr Justice Ewing asked Dr Gilruth if he was aware that it had been sworn that while he was at Darwin he was part owner of the Arrine lease. Dr Gilruth replied—"Yes, it was a claim, not a lease." Replying to further questions Dr Gilruth said the grant was made by him to Judge Bevan and a man named Hope. He told Bevan he would take a third share. He admitted that he had approved the grant to Hope without sufficient authority. Judge Ewing asked~"Knowing Hope was not the real owner, you advanced money to. develop a grant to help your own and Bevan's mining ventures." Dr Gilruth replied—"That is what it amounted to." Judge Ewing pointed out that Bevan had sworn that none of the advances to Hope were ever paid back to the Government, and that only by the merest chance had he discovered that Dr Gilruth and Bevan were interested in the venture. Dr Gilruth replied that anyone could have told Bevan was in it, but probably no one knew that he himself was in it Dr Gilruth denied that he was part owner of the Daly mine, but he advanced some money on it and later made himself responsible for half any loss that might be incurred. He undertook this responsibility without receiving any interest in the mine. He was not aware that Bevan's and Hope's banking account was opened by money paid by himself. Dr Gilruth admitted granting a lease of three thonsand acres to a man named Palmer, but he was not a partner of Palmer.

Rec Feb 12, eveningMelbourne, Feb 12 Dr. Gilruth, replying to Mr Justice Ewing's questions, regarding statements made by him as administrator of the Northern Territory, to Bevan and Hope, said he was anxious to develop mining. It was the Government's policy to subsidise mining.

Mr Justice Ewing, in explaining to Dr. Gilruth, points in the evidence previously given, said: "The people in the territory appeared to be annoyed at the general administration. It is said that you, Carey, Evans and Bevan were a little coterie, and whereever an office was open you appointed one of 'them to it, and raised their salaries very quickly, but anybody not agreeing with you was soon out. It is also alleged that you were desirous of serving, primarily, the interests of Vesty Brothers and were anxious to enable them to sell their meatworks to the Government at the best price obtainable."

Rec Feb 13 9.55 a.m. Melbourne, Feb 13 At the Northern Territory Commission, Mr Flannery, for Vestys,~denied that they' were connected with the American Meat Trust. He stated that Vestys was the principal competitor and the last bulwark against the Trust's invasion of the British Dominions. Mr Barratt asked that copies of Dr Gilruth's various banking accounts be made available. Mr Morley, lor Dr Gilruth, objected, and Judge Ewing upheld the objection, stating that there was no reason to investigate beyond the point which concerned the Commission. Later Mr Morley stated that the accounts would be available. Judge Ewing adjourned the inquiry till Wednesday.