LONG QUESTIONING OF MINISTER CONCLUDED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22819, 14 December 1948, Page 5

LONG QUESTIONING OF MINISTER CONCLUDED

(10 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 13. Resuming his evidence at the Board of Trade inquiry, J. W. Belcher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, told the Attorney-General, Sir Hartley Shawcross, that he had accepted gifts of a bottle of sherry from Sir Maurice Block, a wine merchant and importer, but denied that he had asked for these gifts, either directly or indirectly. Dealing with a remark he had been alleged to have made to Colonel George about the possibility of getting a job if the Government went out of office, Belcher said he had no recollection of saying it and if he did say it it must have been purely as a joke. _ “During the course of this tribunal, I have had many causes to regret my sense of humour,” he added.

Belcher agreed that he had been spending up to the full rate of his income of £2OOO a year. Belcher denied that he was insuring himself against losing his position and added “I would not go round touting for a directorship.” Belcher described as “preposterous” the allegations of bribery against the Solicitor-General and Glenvil Hall and civil servants in the Board of Trade. Belcher concluded his evidence after lli hours in the box spread over three days. The tribunal adjourned until tomorrow.

Four Corrupt Employees Dismissed

(10.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. .13. The President of the Board of Trade, Mr. H. Wilson, in reply to a question in the House of Commons, said that four employees of the board had been convicted of bribery or corruption since July, 1945 and discharged.