PREMIER REFUSES PROBE INTO MINISTER’S ACTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22656, 5 June 1948, Page 5

PREMIER REFUSES PROBE INTO MINISTER’S ACTS

(N. Z. P. A. —Reuter—Copyright.)

CANBERRA. June 4. Demands for a royal commission of •nquiry and the immediate suspension of the Minister of External Territories, Mr. E. J. Ward because of allegations arising from the Garden trial were mad by Opposition members in the House of Representatives yesterday. Bluntly rejecting both demands, the Prime Minister, Mr. J. B. Chifley, said: “I am not prepared to take the word oi a convicted criminal or of any larrikin lawyer. I am satisfied as to Mr. Ward’s complete honesty." Mr. Ward entered the House during the debate and hurriedly conferred with Mr. Chiflev. He did not speak, but interjected heatedly: “I am not afraid of any inquiry. It will be cleaned up before it is finished. You know that my hands are tied.” The Opposition attack was launched by a joint statement by Mr. R. J. Menzies and Mr, A, W. Fadden that they were strongly of opinion that Mr. Ward should not be left in control of his department while judicial investigations of his administration of it were proceeding They added that they did not wish to express an opinion upon the guilt or innocence of any person connected with the pending litigationDuring the discussion on supply .a Liberal member. Mr. Cameron, said that it was a time-honoured practice when a Minister’s administration was questioned for him to relinquish office pending inquiry. He suggested that supply should be refused until Mr. Ward had either resigned or was suspended from Cabinet. Counsel for Garden. Mr. Simon Isaacs, said ho intended to refer to Mr. Chifiey’s remarks about “a larrikin lawyer” to the bar council. The Prime Minister's insulting attack on him was made under the cover of Parliamentary (privilege and was contemptible but it deceived no one.