SURPRISE TURN

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 55, 3 September 1934, Page 10

SURPRISE TURN

COMPANY COMMISSION

PRIMARY PRODUCERS' BANK

VOLUNTARY WITNESS

United Press Association—By Electric Tele-

graph—Copyright. (Received September 3, 2.15 p.m.)

SYDNEY, This Day

A surprise turn in the proceedings of tlie Royal Commission inquiring into company affairs took place when Robert Harold dimming,' co-liquidator of the Primary Producers' Bank, tendered himself as a witness; saying ' that he had travelled from Brisbane for the purpose of making certain denials. Ho denied that- the liquidators had ever supplied lists of the bank's depositors to agents of tho Southern British National Trust, but added that an employee had confessed that ho had tuplied, information. "It was a very great surprise to mo to read that any lists had'ever been out of our hands; also that individuals had been acquainted with who were the creditors and what amounts were due to them. Any lists or information supplied is a breach of our employees' agreement." ■ Questioned by counsel for the coliquidators, Mr. Cumming said that ho had frequently been asked for advice by depositors and had always told them ho knew little about the Southern British National' Trust and that, it would be best for them to make further inquiries before transferring their d.criosits. Mr. Gumming said that he had boon compelled to protest to the Southern British concerning statements attributed to its agents. The statements had boon a gross reflection on the liquidators and he had written to the: company pointing out that any suggestion of the Southern British taking over the bank's assets-was not Only untrue, but seriously derogatory to the liquidators. ■In reply the Southern British explained that the'l men responsible for the statements had been dismissgi, and that such, incidents would not recur. ' Mr. Camming explained how on his arrival in-Sydney he Tiad been visited by. a man named Long, an employee in tho Brisbane office of the liquidators. The man voluntarily confessed that he had suppliod lists to a friend. "The whole thing was donoout of goodheartedness," said Long to the witness. "I was anxjous to help a'man who,had previously worked in the bank, but who had lost his job."

Mr. Cumming then described overtures by McArthur and Mclunes for the purchase of the bank's assets. No figure had been mentioned, but finally at a conference it had been agreed^that a. public accountant should investigate tlio position at McTn'nes's expense. MeJunes had 'guaranteed to forfeit £500 if any information .were supplied to an outside source. The accountant had denied supplying information other than^ that concerning'tho purpose of his in-* vestigatiohs,which were confined to the bank's assets. . ...

Tho inquiry is proceeding.