GAMBLING IN CURRENCY

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1928, Page 13

GAMBLING IN CURRENCY

CIVIL SERVANTS INVOLVED!

PREMIER ORDERS INQUIRY'

THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED!

(British Official Wireless.) Rugby, Feb. f*. The Prime Minister informed fih® House of Commons yesterday of the procedure being adopted regarding the inquiry into certain statements affecting civil servants made in a recent law ease involving dealings in money exchange differences. He eaid:—

“The matters in question arise out of the special obligations of the civil service. They should, therefore, in the first instance be investigated by a service tribunal. This is the method which would be followed in the army and navy. In courts of inquiry proceedings in such cases are private. Evidence is not usually taken upon oath nor under the limitations which prevail in . courts of law. Reports of courts of inquiry are published only in exceptional circumstances. Courts of inquiry are not for the purpose of inflicting sentence or punishment, and have no executive value. Iheir function is solely to ascertain the facts on which higher authorities can act.

“In the present case the Government will be informed of the facta by th® board of inquiry. They will then decide what action is necessary or appropriate, and will inform Parliament accordingly. In view of all the circumstances in this ease it is proposed that the report of the board of inquiry shall be. presented to Parliament simultaneously with the announcement of the decision of the Government upon it.”

In an action in the King's Bench Division the jury gave .their verdict in favour of Ironmonger and Company, bankers, of London, on a claim; for £38,398, made against Mrs. Amon|a Bradley Dyne, in respect of foreign currency transactions.

The defendant pleaded the Gaming Act, and contended the transactions were merely gambles in differences. It was stated in evidence''that in one period of three months she gained £24,000 by her deals. 1

, Mre. Dyne during the nar was secretary to Mr. W. D. Gregory, an UnderSecl'etary in the Foreign Office, whose name was frequently mentioned in the case. It was alleged that he had lost £9OOO in transactions iidth Ironmonger and Company. The Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, promptly took action, 1 arid'Appointed a special board of inquiry into the statements made in the case concerning civil servants. His action was warmly commended by the Press. Within a few minutes of the giving of the verdict, a statement was issued from Downing Street to the effect that the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Secretary of Stati'for Foreign Affairs, Sir Austen Chamberlain, had directed an inquiry to be held forthwith.