“WAS INDISCREET”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 48, 26 February 1941, Page 6

“WAS INDISCREET”

INTERVIEW WITH AN ACCUSED SUBVERSION CASE SOLICITOR-GENERAL’S LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER I Per Frees Association. 1 WELLINGTON, Feb. 25. "I now recognise it was indiscreet of me to interview Ostler at all," states the Solicitor-General, Mr. H. H. Cornish, in a letter to the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, in reference to the interview he had with Harold Alexander Ostler before his trial in the Supreme Court at Christchurch, for attempting to publish a subversive statement. Mr. Cornish’s letter was by way of a reply to a memorandum sent to him by the Prime Minister. Mr. Fraser quoted from a newspaper report of the remarks made by Ostler when addressing a jury in his own defence. Mr. Fraser then continued: “After perusing the report will you please inform me whether the statements reported to have been made by Mr. Ostler are correct, in whole or in part? In order that the Government may give immediate consideration to the matter, please furnish me, at the earliest possible moment, with a full and explicit statement regarding anything, and everything, that may have transpired between you and Mr. Ostler having a bearing on the case under review. You will, I think, agree that, on the face of it, the matter is of a most serious nature, affecting, as it does, the administration of law and the integrity of the Government and its officers, and calls for the most searching and urgent examination.” Mr. Cornish’s letter to Mr. Fraser, dated February 20, is headed, “Re Ostler,” and reads: “I enclose a statement about the above matter which was read in Court in Christchurch and published in the newspapers. I would like to add that, on reflection, I now recognise it was indiscreet of me to interview Ostler at all. My chief regret is, however, that, as a result of what I did Ostler was able to make a statement that I had the authority of yourself and the Attorney-General to discuss the matter with him.” In a statement read in Court, Mr. Cornish said he did not have that authority, nor had he held himself out to Ostler as having had it.