CONCERNING BAUME CASE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 117, 13 November 1926, Page 10

CONCERNING BAUME CASE

ALLEGED PREFERENTIAL

TREATMENT

AFFIDAVITS MUST BE PRODUCED. .

The Government has agreed to set up immediately a Magisterial Commission to inquire into the allegations of the Rev. Howard Elliott that Sidney Erne Baume was accorded preferential treatment by the prisons authorities, provided that Mr. Elliott produces his affidavits and formulates his charges. Following a meeting of Cabinet the Minister of Justice (the Hon. F. J. Rolleston) made the following statement yesterday afternoon:—

"The object of the Legislature in setting up a Prisons Board to' adjudicate on the release and reformation of prisoners was to remove such matters entirely from political or other influence, and to have an independent board which could bring to bear skilled knowledge on the legal, criminal, medical, and human aspects of each case. The fact that the decisions of this board, which has functioned for over 15 years, and dealt with several thousands of cases, have never before, been questioned should be accepted as sufficient guarantee of the nature of its 'work. The board is composed of citizens of the highest repute, and presided over by one of the senior Judges of the Supreme Court, and the Government does not propose, because some people may think that the board erred in the Baunle case, to set up a Commission to inquire into its actions.

"There is not, however, tho slightest objection to a public inquiry into the allegation of preferential treatment to Baume by the prisons authorities. If Mr. Elliott will produce his affidavits and formulate his charges in regard to this preferential treatment a Magisterial Commission of inquiry will be set up at once." MR. ELLIOTT'S REPLY. Commencing upon the Minister's statement last night, Mr. Elliott said: The Government could not well avoid a reply to the challenge to hold an inquiry; but it must not be a partial inquiry restricted to the treatment accorded Baume in prison. It must include inquiry into the events which led up to, and the reasons for, the release of Baume. Further, the Government, in defence of its honour and the pledged word of the Prime Minister, was bound to allow an open inquiry into the appointment of the present ControllerGeneral of Prisons.

"If the Government is prepared to have a full public inquiry into all the allegations," he said, "I am prepared, in the interests of justice and the administration of justice, to formulate charges, but the board of inquiry must be composed of gentlemen independent of the Government and of the Public Service Commissioner."