MR. WARD'S CHARGES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 150, 26 June 1943, Page 5

MR. WARD'S CHARGES

> EXAMINATION TO GO ON | Rec. 9 a.m. CANBERRA, June 25. \ The "Brisbane Line" controversy, '< which is likely to prove a vital issue • in the forthcoming Federal elections, • • flardd up in the Federal House of Re- . presentatives again tctlay. A map purporting to show the celebrated line had been distributed by the Queensland Labour member Mr. F. P. Baker to some of his electors. After the former Minister for Air, Mr. J. McEwcn, had complained that this was a breach of the national security regulations, Mr. Curtin said that Mr. '. Baker's action would be referred 'to . the "proper authorities." Mr. Curtm explained later that by this he meant ; the security service. During today's debate the suspended 1 Labour Minister, Mr. E. J. Ward, speaking virtually from a back bench, declared: "Royal Commission or not, the people are going to be told the truth. I am .still a long way from be- • . ing stilled. Wherever I go in the Commonwealth I am going to tell the , people oi! the danger they were in and ai*e still in," ; Despite the proximity of .the election, the Royal Commission will examine the allegations by Mr. Ward that a vital defence document was missing :. from the War Cabinet files. Political correspondents point out that an ad-1 verse report by the Commission might cause Mr. Ward to lose his official endorsement for the East Sydney "blue ribbon" Labour seat.. ,