CHARGES AGAINST MINISTER

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25736, 23 February 1949, Page 5

CHARGES AGAINST MINISTER

EVIDENCE TO TIMBER LEASE INQUIRY DEAL WITH BRISBANE . COMPANY (Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY. February 22. The Royal Commission appointed to inquire into allegations that the Australian Minister of External Territories (Mr E. J. Ward) hdd received part of the money paid by a Brisbane timber firm, Hancock and Gore, for a timber lease in the Bulolo ' Valley, New Guinea, to-day heard evidence by Mr Edward Farrell, aged 60, a mining engineer. Witness said that he had stopped Mr Ward outside the latter’s office, and said that he was dealins with John Smith Garden in the Bulolo Valley timber deal. Witness alleged that Ward replied: “I know all about it. Garden has full power to deal with the matter. You follow out any instructions he gives you very carefully.” Questioned by the commissioner (Mr Justice Ligertwood), Mr Farrell said he had wanted the concession for himself, but Garden had told him that the Minister would not grant it to him, but would grant it to Raymond Parer for services rendered in New Guinea. During the Police Court case last year, said Mr Farrell, he had heard the allegation for the first time that Harcourt Garden, son of J. S. Garden, was acting as dummy for Mr Ward in the syndicate. J. S. Garden had confirmed this, and had added that Mrs Ward was a fifth party in the syndicate. Witness added that he later said to Garden: “I don’t believe Ward got anything. I don’t believe your son is dummying for anyone. It seems to me that if you and Ward are trying to put it over Hancock and Gore, you have only put it over Ward.” ‘ Witness said that the company was to buy Parer’s concession for £lOO.OOO —£12,500 in cash on the signing of the agreement and the rest over a period. Later this was altered, with consent to a further payment of £37,000. The commissioner: What were you selling? Witness: A concession, which we believed Garden could, and would, obtain for Parer. The commissioner: That is what you sold—Garden’s promise? Witness: He made it clear that he was ‘acting with the full power and authority of the Minister. Questioned by Mr W. J. Shand, K.C.. who is assisting the commission, witness said he believed Garden had told him that if Hancock and Gore paid £37.000 the Minister would give the concession to them free of royalties, but he would not swear to this