Stanhill Signatory Not Interviewed By Police

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30682, 23 February 1965, Page 13

Stanhill Signatory Not Interviewed By Police

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MELBOURNE, February 22. A company squad detective told the City Court today he did not interview Sir William Bridgeford while making inquiries about the Stanhill Development Finance, Ltd., prospectus “because of instructions he had received.” Sir William Bridgeford was one of the signatories of the prospectus.

Lieutenant-General Sir Bridgeford, who is a director of several companies, is a director of Chevron (Queensland) Ltd.

Now aged 72. he had a distinguished military career after graduating from the Royal Australian Military College, Duntroon, in 1915. He ended the Second World War as commanding officer

of the 3rd Australian Infantry Division and before he retired, was commander-in-chief of British Commonwealth Forces in Japan and Korea from 1951 to 1953. He was chief executive officer of the 1956 Olympic Games at Melbourne. Senior-Detective Max Bruce was being cross-examined by Mr V. H. Belson, Q.C., one of the defence counsel in the case in which four men have been charged over the prospectus.

When the hearing resumed today—its sixth day—the Magistrate ruled that a file, said to contain a memorandum from the Crown Solicitor to the Chief Commissioner of Police, was privileged on both grounds claimed by Mr Dixon, for the Crown—as a communication between solicitor and client and as a matter of public policy.

Senior-Detective Bruce was cross-examined by Mr Belson, counsel for Norman William Strange, one of the accused. He said he received certain instructions about four men, one of whom was Strange, from the Chief Commissioner of Police. Senior ■ Detective Bruce

agreed he had been told to start inquiries with the view of obtaining admissions from four men.

Mr Belson: In your official duty if it was your belief some offence had been committed by more than these four people you would go about making further inquiries?

Senior-Detective Bruce: That is so. Mr Belson: Can we assume in this case you have segregated Sir Wiliam Bridgeford?

An objection to this question by Mr Dixon was overruled by the Magistrate.

Mr Belson then asked. “Did you make any inquiries at all about Sir William Bridgeford? You accepted a statement in the report of Mr Murphy that Sir William Bridgeford had been ill?

Senior-Detective Bruce: I knew that of my own knowledge. Mr Belson: You therefore came to the conclusion it was useless trying to see him?— No.

Then why didn’t you interview Sir William Bridgeford —Because of the instructions I had.