END OF CAMPBELL CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18891, 13 December 1924, Page 11

END OF CAMPBELL CASE.

NO FURTHER INQUIRY.

MR. BALDWIN'S DECISION.

VERDICT OF THE ELECTORATE.

By Teleeraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 8.5 p.m.) Renter. LONDON. Dec. 11. In the House of Commons today the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, evoked ironical Opposition laughter by replying in the negative to a question as to whether he proposed to hold an inquiry into the Campbell oaso. He contended that the electorate had given the final decisive verdict on the matter.

Mr. Baldwin added in this connection that tho Government had reversed its predecessor's instructions, under which the Attorney-General was directed not to pursue political prosecutions without the Cabinet's sanction. The present Government, ho said, held that such an instruction was unconstitutonal and subversive of tho administration of justice, besides being derogatory to the Attorney-Gen-eral's position.

The Opposition protested that the Labour Government had only followed precedents. They asked for an opportunity of discussing the matter after Christmas.

The Campbell case was tho rock upon which the late Labour Government, in Britain was wrecked. John Ross Campbell, editor of the Workers' Weeklv was prosecuted for publishing an article in that paper which was deemed to bo of a seditious character, in that it was alleged to have been an incitement to the men of tho Navy and Army to disloyalty. The prosecution was suddenly withdrawn. Subsequently the Conservatives in the Honso of Commons moved a censure motion in connection with this action by the then Attorney-General (Sir Patrick Hastings). The" Liberal members moved an amendment calling for the setting-np of a Select Committee to investigate the matter. This was accepted bv the Labour Government as a no-confidencc motion, and when it was carried, on October 8, tho Government decided to go to tho country, and the general elections which resulted in its defeat followed.