ASSAULT ON JOCK GARDEN

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1932, Page 7

ASSAULT ON JOCK GARDEN

SUGGESTION OF CONSPIRACY

RELEASE OF POLICE REPORTS.

SOME PAPERS ALLEGEDLY TAKEN. COMMENT MADE BY PREMIER. . By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, June S. Mr. B. S. B. Stevens has released the police report on the recent alleged assault on Aiderman “Jock Gaiden y members of the New Guard. According to the police, one of the persons who is alleged to have taken part in the assault was subsequently found sitting in Mr. Garden's office waiting to be arrested. The Premier also advised that copies of certain police reports regarding the New Guard had apparently been stolen. Mr. Stevens said: “Ample evidence has been placed before me to confirm ■Mr. Weaver’s allegations in .connection with the New Guard-Garden ,episode outlined by him; in Parliament.

; Uproar occurred in the Legislative Assembly on May 11 when Mr. K. Weaver, Deputy-Leader of the. Opposition, moved for a Royal Commission to inquire' into the ’actions of certain members of the Cabinet in allegedly entering a conspiracy with Captain H arneford, lately a member of, the New Guardi to break, the. law by the recent assault on Mr. “Jock” Garden. Mr, Weaver declared that Captain Warneford, acting upon instructions from the Government- and .on payment of £6 a week, had organised the Fascist Legion, embracing New Guardsmen without the -authority of the New Guard, culminating in. the attack on Mr. Garden. The whole thing was a “frameup,” he alleged. The Attorney-General, Mr. Lamaro, replied that it was impossible to grant a Royal Commission. He doubted whe-ther-Mr. Weaver himself- believed what he had told the House. There was not one >word of truth, in the. allegation against the Ministers, but the best answer was the. fact .that the men who assaulted. Mr. Garden had voluntarily pleaded guilty. , Mr. Weaver’s .motion was defeated on 0 purely party division, .