INFORMATION LEAKS OUT

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 255, 27 July 1927, Page 10

INFORMATION LEAKS OUT

REVISION OF ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES “OFFENDER WILL BE MADE EXAMPLE OF” Leakages have occurred in connection with the report of the Boundary Commissioners, according to a statement made in the House of Representatives vesterday by the Minister in Charge of the Electoral Department (Hon. A. D. McLeod), who intimated that if the individual responsible could be found the Government would make an example of him. The Minister explained that for some time rumours concerning what was supposed to be the 'definite and final fixing of the electoral boundaries had been current, and those which had been circulated within the last day or two about the alterations of boundaries and names of electorates appeared to be correct. He did not want it thought, that he or the Government were in any way attempting to mislead members of Parliament. It was unfortunate that the leakages should have taken place. The chairman of the Representation Commission had informed him that more than one M.P. had rung him up asking for confirmation of the rumours, and the chairman’s reply, as it had. been to all such inquiries, was that the information would be made available when the papers were placed before the House. During the last three or four days it had been necessarv for the papers to go to the Printing Office, where their contents might become the property of several iwndreds. Undoubtedly leakages had taken place at some stage.. Mr. H. E. Holland: What does it matter? The Minister: Tn fairness to the House a few members should not be aware of the position when the others are not. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton) : Do you suggest that someone in the Government Printing Office was responsible? ' The Minister: I am making no suggestion, but if I could lay my hands ch the public servant, or whoever he may be, the Government would certainly make an example of him. Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) : It is possible the leakage may have come from the Commission. The Minister: I am not prepared to say, but I regret that any leakage has occurred.