INTERVIEW WITH OSTLER

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23264, 26 February 1941, Page 8

INTERVIEW WITH OSTLER

Solicitor-General’s Statement INDISCRETION IS RECOGNISED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) 'WELLINGTON, February;2s. “I now recognise that it was indiscreet of me to interview Ostler at all," states the Solicitor-General (Mr H. H. Cornish) in a letter to the Prime Minister Uhe Rt. Hon. . P. Fraser) in reference to the interview he had with Harold Alexander Ostler before his trial in the Supreme Court at Christchurch for attempting to publish a subversive statement. Mr Cornish’s letter was by way of reply to a memorandum sent to him by the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser in the memorandum quoted from a newspaper report of remarks made by Ostler in addressing the jury in his own defence'; Mr Fraser then continued: “After perusing the report, will you please inform me whether the statements reported to have been made by Mr Ostler are correct in whole dr in part. In order that the Government may give immediate consideration, to the matter, please furnish me at the earliest possible moment with a full and explicit statement regarding anything and everything that may have transpired between you and Mr Ostler having bearing on the case under review. You will, I think, agree that on the face of it the matter is of a most serious nature, affecting as it does the administration of law and the integrity of the Government and its officers, and calls for a most searching and urgent examination.”

Mr Cornish’s letter to Mr Fraser, dated February 20, is headed, Re Ostler, and reads; ‘‘l enclose a statement about the above matter which was read in the Court in Christchurch and published in the newspapers, I would like to add that on reflection I now realise that it was indiscreet of me to interview Ostler at all. My chief regret is, however, that as a result of what I did Ostler was able to make a statement that I had the authority of yourself and the AttorneyGeneral to discuss the matter ' with him.” In the statement read in the Court Mr Cornish said he did not, however, have that authority non had he held himself out to Ostler as having had it