GARDEN’S SON’S ALLEGATIONS AT NEW GUINEA INQUIRY

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1949, Page 5

GARDEN’S SON’S ALLEGATIONS AT NEW GUINEA INQUIRY

(Rec. 8.0) SYDNEY, Feb. 25 The Royal Commission on the New Guinea timber concession case continued to-day. Harcourt Garden, a son of John Smith Garden (who is undergoing imprisonment in connection with the matter) told the Commissioner (Mr Justice Ligertwood) that the Minister of External Territories, Hon. E. J. Ward, had instituted the proceedings against J. S. Garden, senior, only after Mr Ward had an opportunity of getting rid of certain papers. This statement followed an appeal to the Commissioner to be questioned about the relationship between Mr Ward and Garden senior. Harcourt said that Hon. Mr Ward owed his position to Garden senior, who, he said, had taught Mr Ward, Dr H. V. Evatt and Mr J. A. Beasley political economy. The witness told the Commission that his father (J. S. Garden) asked him to “dummy for Mr Ward. He had, he said, no curiosity concerning the purpose of the syndicate, as he trusted his father implicitly.

Opposition Leader’s

Move in Federal

House Out of Order

(Rec. 8.0) CANBERRA, Feb. 25 In the Federal Parliament to-day, there was a move to extend the terms of the New Guinea Royal Commission by the Opposition Leader, Mr R. G. Menzies. He proposed, as an amendment to a Government bill to facilitate the proceedings of the Commission. His amendment sougnt an investigation into whether Hon. M. Ward had obtained, or had assisted in obtaining, any contract, concession, or beneiit for Sydney Pmcombe, Proprietary Limited; into the conduct of Mr William Urquhart, and into the disappearance of Mr A. A. Kingsford, a bank clerk. The amendment was ruled out by the Speaker, Mr H. V. Rosevear. The Speaker ruled that the amendment was outside the scope of the bi The closure was applied to the debate by 28 votes to 21, on the motion of Mr W. J. Scully. The second reading of the bill v>as carried on the voices.