EX-MINISTER’S CONDUCT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18256, 15 August 1921, Page 8

EX-MINISTER’S CONDUCT.

COMMISSIONER’S REPORT. SCANDALOUS PROCEEDINGS. EXPLANATIONS REJECTED. " A remarkable report by a Royal Commission upon the conduct of a former Minister of the Crown in New South Wales was published in Sydney recently. It refers to Mr W. G. Ashford, who was Minister for Lands in the Government under Mr W .A. Holman. Just about the end of the Holman regime charges of maladministration were matte concerning the soldiers’ settlement branch of the Lands Department. Mr Justice Street made an inquiry under a Royal Commission. In his 1 eport, His Honour pointed out that Mr Ashford and Mr Bryant (formerly director of the soldiers' settlement: branch) were married men, and it was suggested tnat, by their association together In a course of immoral conduct, Bryant had acquired an ascendancy over Mr Ashford of which he made an Improper use. His Honour expressed surprise that Mr Ashford had not taken the opportunity of denying this suggestion. Mr Ashford thereupon applied for the reopening of the inquiry, so that he might bring evidence in rebuttal. The inquiry was reopened, and on the evidence then submitted His Honour finds:—(l) That I cannot accept Mr Ashford as a candid or a truthful witness; (2) that he has not succeeded in rebutting the suggestion of immoral conduct made against him; (3) that the additional facts lead fairly to the conclusion that he and Bryant, his subordinate officer, were associated together in a course of Immoral conduct; (4) that it is not Improbable that In these circumstances Bryant acquired an improper ascendancy over him, and used it improperly. STUPIDITY OR EFFRONTERY. “It is unpleasant to be obliged to dwell upon this sordid side of Mr Ashford’s life, and it was with re-

luctance that I embarked upon this supplementary inquiry,” says Mr Justice Street. “There is more involved, however, than the mere question of his moral charactei. There are questions of importance to the public involved. There is the question of his association with hts subordinate officer Bryant, a man ot bad character, in a course of immoral conduct, and there is the further question of the possible effect of the influence acquired by Bryant in this way in bringing about the unsatisfactory state of affairs in the Returned Soldiers' Settlement Branch which led to the appointment, of this commission of inquiry. “Mr Ashford’s reas.'n for asking for this further opportunity of being heard was that ho was prepared to give evidence on the previous occasion, but that, acting on the advice of his counsel that no case had been made out aaginst him calling for an answer, he had refrained from doing so. Now that further light has been thrown upon the matter, I am at a loss to know whether to attribute his request to have it reopened to stupidity or effrontery.” SUPPER PARTIES AND MOTOR TRIPS. “Gartrell’s tea rooms are in the neighbourhood of Parliament House, and are, it is said, much frequented by members of Parliament. It is said, too, that some members are, or were, in the habit of inviting the waitresses to Parliament House to listen to the proceedings. Having invited them there they used also to offer them other hospitality and, to meet the lack of the necessary accommodation in this respect, an obliging Minister of the Crown used to be found who would be willing to allow his private room to be turned temporarily into a supper room,” says the report. “Mr Ashford was one of these. He said that he was introduced to Miss Devereaux at Parliament House by Mr Page in the middle or at the latter end of 1916, and that, on different occasions she and other young women from the tea rooms were entertained in his room at the House. “Not only did Mr Ashford take them on more than one occasion to the theatre, or place at their disposal a box which he seemed to be able to obtain when he wanted it, but in December, 1916, having occasion, as he said, to visit the mountains .partly on business and partly for a few days’ holiday, he took Miss Devereaux, Miss Scope and a friend of theirs to Katoomba with him in the Ministerial car. On the following day he took the same party, and Mr Crookham as well, in the car for an excursion to Jenolan Caves. He asserted at first that he went there on business, but he afterwards admitted that he went on a pleasure excursion. “I cannot accept Mr Ashford as a candid or truthful witness, and I am not satisfied to accept his statement. I think that it is probable that the acquaintance began a good deal soonei’ than he admits.” CAREER OF INFIDELITY. After referring to the matter of assistance given to Miss Devereaux to obtain a passport to America, and to a farewell dinner party at her flat, at which Ashford and Bryant were present. His Honour proceeds: “Bryant, a married man with a wife and six children, was admittedly carrying on an immoral intercourse with Miss Farnell; and the accusation against Ashford, also a married man, 4 2 years of age, and with a wife and four children, was that he was engaged in immoral relations with the young woman who passed sometimes under the name of Mrs Armstrong and sometimes under that of Gladys Devereaux; and that he and Bryant were associated in this course of conduct. Bryant, who has already been revealed as a dishonest person of a low and cunning type, and to whom a lie more or less in the witness-box is probably neither here nor there, thought, I daresay, that some turn of the politi- , cal 'wheel might again put Mr Ashford in a position of influence, and that the best card to play was to feign ignorance. . The evidence also discredits altogether Mr Ashford’s pretending ignorance of any acquaintance between these two young women, and it affords very strong evidence that—notwithstanding their denials—he and his subordinate officer Bryant were associated together in a career ot matrimonial infidelity. Miss Devereaux had given proof that she was frail, and that her virtue was not unassailable; she is shown to have been on a remarkable footing of intimacy with Ashford, considering their relative positions and ages; she Is found living with another woman of easy virtue, who was accepting Bryant’s illicit attentions, ana Bryant and Ashford are found together at the flat occupied by these young women at a farewell dinner to one of them. “The facts may be susceptible of an innocent interpretation, and It may. be that an inference of guilt is not the only inference that can be drawn from them; but I think that most people, knowing human nature for what it is. and accustomed to look facts fairly In the face, will draw an inference of guilt, as I do,” said His Honour. Following a review of the evidence about the sending of £5O to Miss Devereaux in America, His Honour says:—"The utmost that can be said in Mr Ashford’s favour is that the true circumstances surrounding the sending ot the money are left in doubt. lam not prepared to accept his story without some trustworthy corroboration, and I am not prepared to accept any of the statutory declarations as satisfactory corroboration.”