PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16565, 1 June 1914, Page 9

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

REPLY TO MINISTER OF JUSTICE.

MR RUSSELL'S CHARGES SPECIFIC.

Seen by a reporter, Mr G. W. Russell yesterday made a further statement commenting on the Hon A. L. Herdman's reply to the charges made by Mr Russell with rfeerence to the Minister's conduct of the affairs of tho Public Trust Office.

"I notice that at Hawarden," said Mr Russell., "tho Hon Mr Herdman delivered au alleged reply to my criticisms regarding his action in reference to the Public Trust Office. With some skill he states my position to suit himself, and triumphantly produces a report from someone unnamed who is an officer of the Department—apparently not tho Public Trustee A-to prove that the Trust Office continues to flourish. All this is mere verbiage, meant to cover his ignominy in a cloud of words. He never approaches my charges, which were as follows: *" (1) That Mr Herdman suppressed and withheld from Parliament the annual report of the Public Trustee, because that report successfully vindicated tho establishment of a legal branch, which had been condemned by tho lay member of the Commission. " (2) That Mr Herdman, in his place' in Parliament, unequivocally denied that such a report ' was in the possession of the Government,' when as a matter of fact it was in print ready to be laid on the table of the House.

" (3) That at the instigation of the Wellington Law Society Mr Herdman eliminated from the Public .Trust Bill of last year, prepared by tho Department, all tho clauses objected to by the Society, and which the membersof the House never had the opportunity of passing judgment upon. " These charges are clear and specific," said Mr Russell, " and no amount of, wriggling can extricate Mr Herd*, man from the pit he is in. It is not. a question of whether the Department is or is not prosperous. I feel sura its prosperity will continue whilst so able a man as Dr Fitchetfc is allowed to manago it without interference bj his political chief. The question the public have to decide as a jury is whether or not Mr Herdman is guilty of tho grave charges I havo brought against him. If he is not guilty T am prepared to most humbly apologise. If he is guilty lie is absolutely unfit to control the affairs of the country, and Mr Massey should appoint another Minister to the Public Trust Office. "By. tho way. I notice that that wonderful political organisation, the Press Association, has. wired from Christchurch over the dominion in extenso Mr Herdman's reply to me, but has novor given one word of my charges against the Minister. This is quite in accordance with the square deal policy."