ACCUSATION BY EVATT

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27683, 13 June 1955, Page 11

ACCUSATION BY EVATT

Concealing Of Report

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, June 12. The Opposition leader (Dr. H. V. Evatt) yesterday accused the House of Representatives Privileges Committee of having concealed a report saying that no breach of privilege had occurred. He was referring to the gaol order by the House made against the Bankstown contractor, Raymond Fitzpatrick, and the Sydney journalist, Frank Browne, for breach of Parliamentary privilege. He said the clerk of the House, Mr Green, had made the report, which contained an opinion on articles serve?” d in the “ Bankstown ObDr. Evatt said that neither the chairman nor any other member of the committee had informed the House of Mr Green’s report. He described the omission as “one vital aspect of the extraordinary proceedings in the House of Representatives yesterday.” P r - & Vatt 3? id; “ If tn* s is correct the public will insist on knowing why this vitally important matter was confr < on l the House and from the public of Australia. I challenge the Government to say whether Mr Green whose knowledge and learning the Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, so recently acclaimed, made such a report to the committee.” £ omment by Mr Menzies Mr Menzies last night said: “I am not a member of the Committee of Privileges, so I do not know who made a report to it. Dr. Evatt voted as one of a unanimous House to accept the report of the committee that there was a serious breach of privilege. Theiefore, this repentance seems to me to come so late as to be almost a world’s record. . J' Mr 9 reen said yesterday that he had made a report to the committee for guidance on the various authorimTnt < ’’ ICerned With contem P t ParliaHe said: “I have no doubt that this was considered by the committee. A Melbourne report says that the Victorian Parliament has gaoled at least lour men in its history lor contempt of privilege. Actions from two or these gaolings went to the Privy Council, which upheld the Victorian Government in each case. The Western Australian Parliament has also gaoled a man for contempt.