MR. LANG’S CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 70, 16 December 1937, Page 7

MR. LANG’S CHARGES

Royal Commission Set Up STATE ENTERPRISES By Telegraph.—Press. Assn.—Copyright, Sydney, December 15. The Premier. Mr. B. S. B. Stevens, announced in the Legislative Assembly that Mr. Justice Haise Rogers had been appointed a Royal Commissioner to inquire into the truth of the allegations and suggestions made by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. J. T. Lang, regarding the sale of State enterprises. Mr. Stevens said that the commission would be framed In the widest terms so that the whole charges of fraud and corruption could be inquired into.

Mr. Lang asked the Government to pay the costs of his own legal adviser and counsel to enable him to present his case. It is believed that the request will be refused. After a bitter debate in the Legislature Assembly last week regarding the disposal by the Government of the State pipe works, the State brick works and the State metal quarries, in the course of which Mr. Lang alleged fraud and corruption on the part of the Government, Mr. Stevens said he would appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the charges if Mr. Lang would give evidence. Mr. Lang accepted the challenge, and said he would welcome a Royal Commission. The matter arose from a bitter controversy in which it was alleged that shortly after the Government disposed of the State works the prices of the materials they produced rose sharply. The Minister of Local Government, Mr. E. S. Spooner, introduced a Bill to provide for the constitution of boards to determine fair and reasonable prices for the products of the undertakings mentioned.