THE COMMONWEALTH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16538, 23 September 1921, Page 8

THE COMMONWEALTH.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS. By Telegraph—Prcsa Association— Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable .Association. ARCHBISHOP OF BRISBANE (Received September 23, 10.55 a.m.) .BRISBANE, September 23. I>r Gerald Sharp, Bishop of New Guinea, has* been appointed to succeed the Rt Rev Mr Donaldson as Archbishop of Brisbane. 'THE FEDERAL BUDGET. MELBOURNE, September 23. The Federal Budget to be submitted next Thursday will, it. is understood, announce that there ia no need of new taxation. MR ASHFORD AGAIN. SYDNEY, September 23. Mr Ashford (late Minister for Lands and Forests; has made a statement defending his honour against the commissions’ findings. He explained that he would have resigned ana re-contest-ed his seat, if the single electorate system had been in voguo. Mr Justice Street, in concluding his final report recently on the soldier settlements, finds that he cannot accept Mr Ashford (ox-Ministar of Lands nnd Forests m the New South Wales Ministry) as a candid or truthful witness. “He haw not succeeded in rebutting the suggestions of immoral conduct,” the Judge states, referring to Mr Ashford. “ Additional facts lead fairly to the conclusion that he and Bryant, a subordinate officer, were associated in a course of immoral conduct. It was not improbable that in those circumstances Bryant acquired an improper ascendancy over him, and used him improperly.” Later Mr Ashford, in a statement regarding the Commission’s report, denies that he was guilty of misconduct. He added that no evidence, direct or indirect, of any impropriety was given against him. The inquiry was reopened at his own request, and he would not have dared to face another inquirv if he was not innocent of the allegations made.