AUSTRALIAN CHARGES

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1941, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN CHARGES

ABOUT AN APPOINTMENT.

DEFEATIST ARTICLES.

Serious allegations concern?-’ Mr. E. M. R. Lewis, who has accompanied Sir Bertram Stevens, leader of the Australian delegation to the Eastern Group Supply Council, at Delhi, were made by Senator Armour (Labour, New South Wales) in the Australian Parliament recently. Senator Armour said that up till a little more than a year ago Mr. Lewis wa's editor of the London financial publication known as “The Statist,” but he obtained permission on the ground of ill-health to leave England for a year. He did not go back. He came to Australia some time last year, and was. immediately employed by Sir Bertram Stevens, for whom he wrote financial articles. When Sir Bertram became a director of “Jobson’s Digest,” he immediately appointed Mr. Lewis to a position on the staff of that publication, but Mr. Lewis wrote such defeatist articles that the other directors determined that he should not

carry on. However, Mr. Lewis continued in Sir Bertram’s private employ. ■ About last July, a German national named Singer, who had been employed for some time by the Japanese Government in Japan came to Australia under mysterious circumstances, and, by processes not disclosed, struck up an intimate friendship witn Mr. Lewis. But the Commonwealth authorities very rapidly descended upon Mr. Singer and he was interned. Mr. Lewis thereupon shifted heaven and earth to have Singer released, and succeeded only In interesting the Commonwealth authorities In himself. Mr. Lewis’s affairs and associations with Singer were investigated, not by the Investigation Department, but by the military police, and when they raided Lewis’s flat they found documents and property that Singer had apparently left m anticipation ot his arrest. “In view of these disclosures. Senator Armour continued, “Mr. Lewis’s appointment deserves some explanation in the public interest. It is all very well for the Government or the Minister to say that this cannot be done ‘in accordance with established practice.’ Established prac-

tlce and the old school tie methods once brought Britain into grave straits and this must not be allowed to happen here. With the increasing importance of Australia In international affairs, our representatives abroad must be above suspicion.”

Tiie Postmaster-General, Senator McLeay, said that the matter-raised by Senator Armour would be re-< ferred to the Attorney-General, Mr. W. M. Hughes.,