CONFLICTING INTERESTS

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1913, Page 5

CONFLICTING INTERESTS

A MINISTER'S RETAINER

FEDERAL ATTORNEY-GENERAL

AND MARCONI CO

(By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright)

MELBOURNE, Aug. 22

In the Federal House of Representatives Mr. W. H. Irvine (Attor-ney-General) replying to Mr. Fraser's attack on him regarding the Marconi Company said Mr. Fraser seemed to think that his (Mr. Irvine's) acceptance of a retainer from the company involved some confidential arrangement between the company giving the retainer and counsel accepting it.

Nothing was more absurd, he declared. A general retainer did not bind counsel. As ' regards the acceptance of a brief, if there was any reason whatever, public or private, which would embarass him, he would have no more relations with the Marconi Company than with other gentlemen who had given him general retainers. He had no duty to them except that he had to give them notice befor.e he accepted a brief in an action against them.

The points raised by Mr. Fraser involved the question that a man could not accept qny position as a Minister unless he altogether divested himself of any interest of any kind which might come into conflict with any decision he might have to give as a Minister. Mr. Fraser considered that the Marconis had a first claim upon his services, and not merely that he had to give notice before he appeared against the company.

Mr. Fisher (Leader of the Opposition) said the Hovise would have to decide whether Ministers were to be permitted to have connections that would allow private interests to affect their public duties.

Mr. Cook (Prime Minister) declared that Mr. Irvine had absolutely cut his connection with the Marc ni Company, and returned their briefs. The House adourned till Tuesday.