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FURTHER INQUIRY SOUGHT

Mr. Macdonald read to the House Uie following resolution, which was moved by Opposition members but defeated by the Defence Committee Which heard Laing’s petition: "The committee finds that while •ome unsuitable vehicles were sent from New Zealand to the forces in New Caledonia in January and February, 1943, it also finds that the men's Hves were not jeopardised because of that, and that petitioner failed to substantiate the extent to which un•uitabie vehicles were sent. “In view, however, of the serious allegations by petitioner of waste and inefficiency in respect of Army transport in New Zealand, of the receipt of a secret commission by an individual tai connection with the sales of motor vehicles to the Government, and of improper influence on the part of a leading motor company, alleged to have paid secret commission, the committee recommends that a magisterial public enquiry be held to investigate all the charges made by petitioner, so that all parties whose reputations may have been called into question mayhave the opportunity of refuting the charges made against them.** Mr Fraser said the memoer for Mataura was trying to create a scandal.

Mr. Thorne; Just muck-raking. Mr. Fraser said that despite all that Mr. Macdonald had said surely there could have been a single word of praise for Brigadier Avery, who was one of the ablest Quart ermasterGeneials ever in the New Zealand Army. An Opposition member: Red herring! Mr. Fraser said he had nothing aga.nst the petitioner persunaih, i,u* any report given to the Defence Committee describing alleged conversations Laing had had with him he would say were fantastic. He undeistood that Laing was going to stand for Parliament. “PUBLISH WHAT HE LIKES.” “So far as I am concerned, can publish what he wants to if he can get an audience to listen,” said Mr. Eraser. The Prime Minister said that Laing had served the Government well, but he unfortunately came into conflict with other departments. Idling was an able technician. Mr. Bowden: Is he still on the start? Mr. I’hiser: Yes, he’s still there. Mt. Bowden: Is he employee!? Mr. Fraser, referring to the findings of the Perry Inquiry, said that all he was concerned about at that time, which was in lime of war. was that the Army should not be harassed. The

charge which Laing had laid against the Quartermaster-General amounted to treason.

Mr. F. W. Doidge, Opp., Fauranga): The Prime Minister is putting up a smokescreen against an atomic bomb. Mr. Fraser, replying to a point raised concerning documents of the Perry Inquiry not being made available to Laing, said that all he was concerned about were the vehicles, and whether the lives of the men were endangered. He was not concerned about Laing. If Laing wanted his charges tested he could make them openly. The Inquiry was to satisfy the War Cabinet, and not to satisfy Laing, and he did not give copies of the repoit to Lanng. At that time it was desirable not to have controversy, when there was war on. and which would raise fears of parents for their boys. He wanted the matter to be finished once it was established that the men's lives were not in danger, and the main point in the petition was that the men’s lives were in danger. The finding was that they were not. He was perfectly satisfied that the men were in no danger, and he did not consider it necessary to take the matter any further. He would take full responsibility for that decision. [ Mr. Watts: What are you going to do with this man? SECRET COMMISSION TALK. Mr. Fraser said that if men's lives were not endangered by the vehicles sent to New Caledonia, then the petition tell to the ground. Mr. Fraser, referring to the allegation concerning “secret commission” being paid, denied that this was done. There was some arrangement with the Ford Motor Company, he said, and as soon as Cabinet knew' about it, it was cut out straight away. It was, in his opinion, an unnecessary commission, which he took a great deal of pleasure in stopping. He felt grateful to Laing for bringing that matter to his notice. Laing had been up against nearly everybody he worked with. Mr. Fraser said he strongly disapproved of any suggestion that the Quartermaster-General could have been a party to keeping the best vehicles behind in New Zealand and disposing of them for personal gain. Such a charge was without any foundation whatever. Mr. C. G. E. Harker <Opp„ Waipawa) said the Prime Ministei had failed in his duty by not showing the Pe rv Inquiry report to Laing. He said he had never heard of any more serious charges than those made by • against high Army officers. A ’I inouiry should be held. Mr. P. C. Connellv (Govt., Dunedin

West), said the whole case was “a mare’s nest,” which petitioner had stumbled across He said he realised that the Opposition had to gc further in the matte.' Ilian the Government because in recent weeks the case had been featured in certain weekly newspapers. So far as Brigadier Avery was concerned he was completely exonerated, and though petitioner had made many charges, he had nor. produced one witness to substantiate them.

An Opposition voice: You can't compel them. Mr. Connolly: He could request

Mr. Connolly said not one charge against. Army officers had been proved.

Opposition voices: Hear, hear. Mr. Walts: What are you going to do with petitioner? Mr. Goosman said that what the Oi'iositioii wanted to ensure was that If there was something the matter it should bp brought to the light of day. If there was nothing the matter the man hringzinn tin the charges should bear the, brunt. The Opposition wanted a proper inquiry, so that the people concerned in the charges could exonerate themselves.

The debate was continued until*s.3o p.m., when the report was talked out.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19461004.2.70

Bibliographic details

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 October 1946, Page 6

Word Count
990

FURTHER INQUIRY SOUGHT Wanganui Chronicle, 4 October 1946, Page 6

FURTHER INQUIRY SOUGHT Wanganui Chronicle, 4 October 1946, Page 6