CHARGES AGAINST POLICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 14 March 1936, Page 7

CHARGES AGAINST POLICE

ACCUSERS FAIL TO APPEAR (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, 13th March. When the Royal Commissioner, Judge Marked, opened his inquiry into the charges against the police concerning betting raids and prosecutions, there was no appearance of the members of Parliament who made the charges. Judge Marked said that as the charges were of the gravest character and the greatest public interest he would undertake to send a personal notification to eacli Parliamentarian of the next sitting of the Commission, and in addition would suggest to the Government the desirability of providing legal assistance for them. The Commission adjourned until Monday.

During an angry scene in the Legislative Assembly, when the Government announced the appointment of the Royal Commissioner, Mr J. T. Lang, Leader of .the Opposition, in attacking the Government for not allowing the charges to be ; investigated by a Parliamentary Select Committee, instead of : a Royal Commission, declared that no member of the Opposition would give evidence or make any statement before the Royal Commission, which was nothing more nor less than a ‘-‘whitewashing institution.” He added that one of the very Judges who had dealt with betting appeals had been appointed Commissioner. The Minister of Justice, Mr L. D. Martin, replied that the Government would not be content with anything but the most thorough and searching investigation of allegations involving the honour and reputation of the police force.