WHEAT INQUIRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18599, 29 December 1920, Page 7

WHEAT INQUIRY.

JUDGE RETURNS COMMISSION. By Teleeraph—Press Association-Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, December 28. The Hon 6. Storey (Premier), announced that the Gflvernmenthatlciecided to accept a return of the Wl .eat Commission from Mr Justice 1 ring, who explained that he could not proceed with the inquiry owing to the continued illness of Mr Gcoigeson.

HISTORY OF THE INQUIRY. The Holman Government were defeated in New South Wales at the last dection partly through the public unS caused through the scandals alleged in connections with wheat tiansactioni "‘Judge Pring, w whom the entire public has the utmost confidence, was given a most extensive commission to probe the whole matter, particularly the alleged transactions with air George Gcorgeson and the then Minister of Agriculture, the Hon M. r fit-lmme At a critical period AH eorS*" W «emTa mental derange ment, and the medical men certified that he could not ho examined. Tho Opposition made scarcely veiled charges that the medical men were in league with the Government, and Mr Holman, who suffered personal defeat, both as Premier and private member, at the elections, offered the leader of tho Oppostion, Mr John Storey (now Pro-, mier) an independent medical tribunal. This was without avail. The elections were held, and the fact that the learned Judge had not .givten any decision one way or the other concerning the alleged huge sums which the Minister was supposed to have received from Gcorgeson, undoubtedly influenced many electors. Hie Judge adopted the attitude that he would npt hear anything concerning Mr Georgeson unless he was in a fit stats to> have his interests defended. When the. Storey. Government were returned to power it was'thought that tliev would attempt to carry ante effect their platform promises and toroe Georgeson into the witness-box. -Medical opinion was unchanged however, and the medical experts told the Premier that if he compelled Georgeson to appear it was possible that he would collapse, and probably die, and that in their opinion whoever caused the man to go into Court would be responsible for his death. Quite recently Judge Pnng investigated a report made by one of the Labour members that John Talbot (a partner of George son’s), had given £SOO .to the Hon James Dooley (Chief Secretory). and tlve Hon Thomas Mutch {Minister of Education), to cause them to refrain from pressing Georgeson to give evidence. The Judge, in a most comprehensive report, entirely exonerated the two Ministers, and severely condemned the member who liad first made the statement.

Georgeson is a church worker, and the elderß of his own bhureh maintain that he is an entirely innocent man, and he still retains his t lerical positions; His friends contend that he bought wheat in the open market at a very low price, after the Government had condemned it as unfit for human consumption, that he sold it to Japanese merchants at a verysubstantial profit because the market rose, and justifiably made tens of thousands of pounds, which it was open for the Government or any private individual to do, and that ftia only fault was that he . wns stressful. The friends of the former Minister, Mr GraJiame, likewise explain that they fervently believe that the Minister diet aot take one penny improperly, and the large sums which went through his hanking account were what he described them, the result of betting transactions, for he often placed over on© thousand pounds at a single meeting. • The matter, however, is now finalised by the Judge returning his; Commission, and it is likely that it will never be revived.