ECHO OF MINING SCANDALS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18614, 9 July 1930, Page 9

ECHO OF MINING SCANDALS.

Mr Theodore’s Indignation,

FAIRNESS OF INQUIRY CHALLENGED. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 8, 10.5 p.m.) CANBERRA, July 8. Mr E. G. Theodore, contrary to expectations, made no attempt to-day to answer the charges of fraud and dishonesty levelled against him by Mr Justice Campbell. His statement in the House of Representatives, which was awaited throughout the Commonwealth with the greatest interest, concluded with a hope that the Queensland Government would give him an opportunity of answering charges seriatim by presenting an indictment against him. “I do not want a further Royal Commission,” said Mr Theodore. “I ask for a fair trial, by formulating an indictment against me, covering every one of the charges.” Prime Minister Speaks. Before Mr Theodore began every inch of space in the House was occupied. The Prime Minister briefly explained the events which led to Mr Theodore’s resignation of the Treasurership, and paid a tribute to the manner in which he had carried out the work. He said that Mr Theodore had brought to bear an immense industry and intellectual capacity in dealing with the complicated and most difficult financial situation, unprecedented in the annals of the Commonwealth. “Damnably False.” Mr Theodore, in the course of a long statement, said he did not want anyone to infer that his retirement from Ministerial office was in any sense an admission that the report of the Royal Commission was justified. He merely desired to correct the wrong impressions on a couple of matters which were agitating the public mind. One was that he had only himself to blame for not appearing before the Commission, and giving evidence. The terms of reference of Mr Justice Campbell’s Commission, however, in no way impugned his honour.

Mr Theodore said he had tried to c appear before the Commission at the end of May, but the dates suggested had been unacceptable to the Commis- i; sion. He next reecived an invitation c to give evidence before the Commis- 1 sion on July 7. but this was unaccept- * able to him, owing to the preparation t of the Federal Budget. He wrote sug- c gesting another date after the delivery ( of the Budget, but received an answer | from the Commission saying that his !, letter was vague and unsatisfactory. t Mr Theodore added that he thought 1 he should have been heard, particu- j larly as hi-s banking affairs had been j raked up by the Commission. It was a i recognised principle of British justice ] to grant an adjournment of a Com- \ mission in such circumstances to - enable him to give evidence. ( i “is it any wonder that I have come : | to the conclusion that I am the victim ■ of a hired assassin,” Mr Theodore said. He went on to repeat the charge. He said: “I am not going to answer these now. I am looking for a 1 better opportunity. All charges are false—damnably false.”. He read a letter received that day from his solicitors and counsel before the Mungana Commission. This stated that the Commissioners' finding is absolutely unjust and biassed. There was no oral evidence to connect Mr Theodore in any way with the charges. We regard it as a scandalous decision, based merely on assumption and inference.” FULL INVESTIGATION DEMANDED MR MCCORMACK’S REPLY. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 8, 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 8. Mr William McCormack, former Premier of Queensland, interviewed, at Darlinghurst Flat, said that the Mungana report reeked with political malice based entirely on hearsay and inference. He demanded a full investigation of the charges in a Court of Justice. Mr McCormack pointed out that Mr Justice Campbell was in error—associating him with Goddard’s appointment as general manager of Chillagoe Smelters. The fact was that “I was not a member of the Government until several months later. The report also condemns the Treasury officials for laxity, at the time of the purchase of the Mungana leases. The fact was that the purchase was made j upon the report of an independent j engineer, Mr Poole, of Sydney. The additional factor that £300,000 worth of metal was obtained after the purchase of these mines is given no consideration whatever by the Commissioner. I believe if high-grade ore only had been mined, this venture would have proved profitable. I was ! unable to attend the Royal Commis- ’ sion owing to a complete nervous L breakdown, while in addition I knew : that all the records of Mungana were available for anybody desirous of probing the history of the transactions.” SUPPORT FOR MR THEODORE. ; VIEWS OF LABOUR PARTY, i * SYDNEY, July 8. t Mr J. Graves, president of the Aus- * tralian Labour Party Executive and Mr J. Garden, secretary of the Labour Council, representing the industrial - and political wings of the Labour moves ment, issued statements strongly defending Mr Theodore. It is therefore assumed that if Mr i Theodore is to go before the elecI’ tors of Dailey he will receive the Labour endorsement.