Call to charge Farquhar

Press, 2 August 1983, Page 10

Call to charge Farquhar

NZPA Sydney The actions of the former New South Wales Chief Magistrate, Murray Farquhar, in influencing the outcome of proceedings against Kevin Humphreys could not be allowed to pass by default and he must be charged, the Royal Commissioner, Sir Laurence Street, said in his report released yesterday. Sir Laurence said that to invoke the criminal law in the circumstances the Attorney-General must grant immunity from prosecution to a magistrate, Kevin Jones, who dismissed charges in 1977 against the former N.S.W. rugby league chief, Mr Humphreys. Mr Humphreys should stand trial on the original charges if the evidence was available, he said. Mr Jones, S.M., should become a compellable witness against Mr Farquhar.

The report was released by the N.S.W. AttorneyGeneral, Mr Paul Landa. Crown law officers studied the report throughout the week-end and will recommend to the Government whether action should be taken on Sir Laurence’s recommendations. The report also contained recommendations concerning the magistracy and police prosecutors in magistrates’ courts. Sir Laurence said that Mr Farquhar’s actions, no matter how positive and efficacious, were wholly incompatible with his office as chairman of the bench of Stipendiary Magistrates. “Precisely why he desired to achieve the discharge of Mr Humphreys remains, and I believe always will remain, a mystery unless he chooses to disclose this,”

said Sir Laurence. The Royal Commission was set up after allegations in the Australian Broadcasting Commission television programme “Four Corners” about the Humphreys committal proceedings. Mr Humphreys, who recently resigned as chief executive of the N.S.W. Rugby League, was charged by summons on nine counts of having allegedly misappropriated sAusts2,sl9 from the Balmain Leagues Club while secretary-manager. Late last evening (N.Z. time), the New South Wales Government directed that Mr Farquhar be charged and Mr Humphreys stand trial if the police had sufficient evidence available.

Mr Landa also approved the granting of immunity from prosecution to the magistrate, Mr Jones.