SCOPE OF BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRY MAY BE INCREASED

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1948, Page 6

SCOPE OF BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRY MAY BE INCREASED

LONDON, October 14. “When Parliament meets it is likely that the Government will be urged to widen the scope of the judicial inquiry which Mr Attlee . has . announced will be held to investigate alleged irregularities in the Board of Trade,” says th? Yorkshire Post. “The official statement issued by Mr Attlee confines the inquiry at present to alleged transactions between certain officials of the Board of Trade and a firm of football pool promoters, and to the alleged payment of money to permit certain persons to import equipment for fun fairs. “It is being pointed out that the police have investigated a number of other alleged irregularities, not all of which concern the Board of Trade, and that it would be advisable to bring all these matters within the purview of the judicial enquiry. The special correspondent of the New Zealand Press Association says it is expected that at least six members of the House of Commons will be called to give evidence when the inquiry opens, and also several members of the Government. These will include the President of the Board of Trade (Mr Harold Wilson), the Parliamentary Secretary to the board (Mr J. W. Belcher), the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr Gian - vil Hall), and the Minister of Works (Mr Charles Key). Mr George Gibson, a director of the Bank of England, may also be called, and a number of senior civil servants. The names of two Judges of the High Court—Mr Justice Birkett and Lord Justice Tucker—are mentioned as probable presidents of the court. The Attorney-General (Sir Hartley Shawcross) will present the evidence and examine the witnesses. Police investigations are still proceeding, and the Scotland Yard file for the investigation is said to be already over a foot high. . . American newspapers are giving considerable publicity to the investigation. Suggestions are made that it is likely to be sensational and to in ~ volve a junior Minister. British newspapers have been much more guarded in their references. Several King’s Counsel are reported to have been briefed to watch the interests of persons concerned.