Queensland Official Faces Punishment

Press, Volume C, Issue 29635, 4 October 1961, Page 13

Queensland Official Faces Punishment

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) CANBERRA, October 3. The Director of Posts and Telegraphs in Queensland, Mr E. C. A. Brown, has been suspended after admitting improper conduct involving the use of official Commonwealth cars. The Public Service Board will now decide his punishment.

Mr Brown, aged 51, is the youngest state director of posts and telegraphs in Commonwealth history. His suspension was announced in the House of Representatives today by the PostmasterGeneral (Mr Charles Davidson).

Mr Davidson said the Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs (Mr F. P O’Grady) last Wednesday had charged Mr Brown with three offences of improper conduct and suspended him from duty. The charges, which were made under the provisions of section -56 of the Public Service Act. were that Mr Brown was guilty of improper conduct in that:

Between July 28 and 31. 1961, he used for other than official purpose* a motor vehicle belonging to the Postmaster-Gen-eral’s Department. Between August 6 and 8 1961, he sought the as-

sistance of a subordinate officer in fabricating reasons to justify the use of the motor-car. and that Between August 6 and September 15. 1961, he made false and misleading statements when asked to explain the use of the motor-car.

Mr Davidson said that in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Act and Regulations, Mr Brown was required to reply to the charges in writing within seven days stating whether he admitted or denied the tryth of the charges Mr Brown had now in writing admitted the truth of the charges. Mr Brown, who is married, without a family, has held the too post’ office position in Queensland since 1947. Before then he was director in Tasmania. He ha, been receiving an annual salary of £3783 in his Queensland office.