TWO PRESSMEN APOLOGISE FOR CONTEMPT BREACH

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1947, Page 7

TWO PRESSMEN APOLOGISE FOR CONTEMPT BREACH

(Recd. 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, August 12. Mr Guy Schofield, editor of the London Evening News, and Mr Stanley Dobson, Evening News political correspondent, appeared at the bar of the House of Commons today and unreservedly apologised for having withheld the name of a Commoner, Mr Evelyn Walkden (Labour) when asked to reveal it by the Committee of Privileges. They said they were now prepared to answer the question they had previously refused to answer. The Committee of Privileges reported to the Commons on July 30 that Messrs Schofield and Dobson had refused to answer certain questions about the source of information at the inquiry into the charges by the Labour member, Mr Garry Allighan, in the World’s Press News, that payments were made to members by newspapers for information about party and other private meetings. Mr Walkden announced in the Commons on August 4 that he was the Commonex’ referred to by Messrs Schofield and Dobson. Mr Herbert Morrison moved that, the refusal by a witness before a Select Committee to answer - questions was a contempt of the House.- Mr Morrison said he moved this in a declaratorw form in order to establish a principle that should be known to all. He added that there was room for doubt whether Messrs Schofield and Dobson were made fully aware that in declining to give information they were guilty of contempt.

Mr Morrison also moved that in the circumstances it was not necessary to proceed further. Mr Clement Davies (Liberal), who is a member of the Committee of Privileges, emphasised that until the committee cfime to the question of conflict of loyalties it was impressed by Messrs Schofield and Dobson as both being witnesses of the truth, conscientiously ti’ying to assist the committee.

The House unanimously carried both of Mi' Morrison’s motions.