MUNGANA SCANDAL

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1930, Page 17

MUNGANA SCANDAL

A POLITICAL SENSATION POSITION OF MR. THEODORE.. DEMAND TO CLEAR NAME. Sydney, July 10. .Events in the Theodore drama moved so quickly that they left the whole nation stunned. It has not yet recovered from the shock of the biggest political sensation since Federation. There still exists a very strong doubt hs to what justification the Queensland Government’s Royal Commission had for the issue of such a .scathing report. -Following on the severe condemnation of the Commissioner by -Mr. Theodore himself, the public is left with two alternatives —either there has been colossal injustice, or there has been a'colossal bluff, the bluff being perpetrated by Mr. Theodore. : -.- Mr. Theodore, suddenly eclipsed when he was ou the point of achieving the height of his ambition—he was to be acting-Prime Minister during the absence at the Imperial Conference of Mr. J. 11. Scullin —says the whole inquiry reeks with politics. To appreciate his view of the matter it is necessary to quote him in full. Here is his statement; “The report of the commission is the most dastardly piece of partisanship it is possible to imagine. The eominissioii jr, condemns me without, having heard me. He probed'-into/.my private affairs and bank accounts . without first calling me to give evidence. Subsequently, when I demanded the .right, to •be (heard he denied .-me a reasonable .opportunity to attend and hurriedly .closed the .inquiry. The findings are very unjust. So. ..far as they concern me'they are ■ based-‘on ex parte statements which are flagrantly untrue and malicious. The whole thing reehs of . politics.■ . ALLEGED POLITICAL - ATTAI-js. “For years my political enemies in Queensland have spread rumours and scandals concerning me. They have relied on false allegations of corruption as their chief weapon against Labour and have persisted in their calumnies against me with a persistency that has been peculiarly malignant. The. Muiigana inquiry is just another' phase of the same campaign. My enemies are determined to assassinate me politically. The lawyer in charge of the inquiry, : Mr. McGill, is the president of. the Queensland Na.tionalisf Political Party, and the solicitors who are associated with him are .firms that are intimately associated with anti-Labour politics in the State. I have never had any interest in the Mungana company or in the Mnngana' leases, and I naturally feel that I am the victim of atrocious injustice, lloweyer, the matter cannot remain where it is. 1 am assuredly entitled to a judicial investigation of the charges against me.” The history of the Mungami;leases goes back many years and the origin of the ‘charges that have led to such dramatic consequences are almost lost. They have been the subject of riwMoiivs in Queensland whenever the polities of that State were discussed and there have been veiled references to the part- played by the former Premier (Mr. MacCormaek), the former Minister of Mines (Mr. Jones) and the former Treasurer (Mr. Theodore).

QUEENSLAN D DREMI I’R SATISFIED.

Of .course, it was not long after the Nationalists were returned to power that more was heard of the so-called scandal in connection with the mining leases, and it was not surprising that Air. ...Moore, once he became Premier, should; decide upon a Royal. Commission to investigate the charges in the making of which he had been the most prominent. He claimed, and still claims, that he was in duty bound to do so, in order to justify the statements he had so often repeated. He now claims that he has been completely vindicated in making the charges.

lie pay? he is satisfied; that as far as he is concerned there is no-question of taking action against any individual. However, on tho point as to whether duy further legal action should be taken, he has sought the advice of the Crowd. Law Department, and he is now prepared to do whatever the department recommends. Everyone is convinced that the matter 5 cannot be permitted to remain where it is. If Mr. Theodore is really guilty of the serious fraud that has been alleged against him, the public should be made fully aware of the fact. If not, Mr. Theodore has every right to clear his name.

DISAPPOINTMENT OVER BUDGET.

" There is no denying the fact that Mr. Theodore has a great deal of sympathy in the predicament in which he has-found himself. When the report was issued he had almost completed what it- was considered -would be the most momentous Budget i n the history.of the Commonwealth. He had been working on this for months past, for it has involved a complete readjustment of the finances of tho country. Ho was to have the document ready for delivery in the House last Tuesday. This Budget was to be his masterpiece of finance. Now he has been denied the right to read it,< and must consider himself fortunate if he is permitted to hear it read as a private member. Surely tho fortunes of no other politician have been so rudely disturbed. Ho was to bo acting Primo Minister during the months that Air, Sculliu will be away. This is also denied him. Ho probably regards this as the unkindest cut of all, for he is a man ef very great ambition. And so it is that we have the- paradox—a man suddenly eclipsed politically, and yet the most talked-of ma.nin Australia.

There was a tensely dramatic scene in tho House of Representatives on Tuesday when Mr. Theodore made his memorable statement in his own defence. Not a seat was vacant, and every eye was turned on the one figure—the somewhat weary, but tho calm and reposeful figure of the former. Treasurer. Had he newer, been accused of fraud the position would have been the same, for he rose to speak at the hour when, under other circumstances, ho would have delivered his Budget. During his impassioned address to his fellow members he often betrayed signs of deep emotion. His usual aeliberate style of speaking was missing and lie spoke with fire, and emphasis. Those who heard him will never forget tho fire and emphasis which accompanied the words “damnable lies.” “Yes; damnable lies,” he said heatedly, as he referred to the charges that were made against him. Even his political enemies

must have felt that his statement rang true, for he did not mince his words. ■DEMAND FOR LEGAL TRIAL; Here is one striking passage from his speech, and while it was being utteied there -was complete silence:—“l have kept my hands clear and-clean of anything not worthy of my position of trust. ! assure you that you need have no misgivings that I cannot entii ely clear my name. I make the demand on the Queensland Government that, without delay, it should formulate an indictment against, me, and in some manner enable ine to appear before an unimpeachable tribuiv al to be. heard in my -own defence against these calumnies and damnable charges. If I am guilty,. I am entitled to clear my name of every .tarnish these chAiges attach to it. I have given half a, lifetime to public service, and, I hope, useful public service. I have had exalted ideals, and I have always done what I consider worthy of the high and honourable offices that I have filled. Members of his own party cheered . as Mr. Theodore resumed his seat. ■“ The Opposition maintained the silence that had marked the scene all through.