FURTHER CLASHES IN COURT: COUNSEL AND MINISTER OF CROWN

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 January 1948, Page 5

FURTHER CLASHES IN COURT: COUNSEL AND MINISTER OF CROWN

Recd. 7.30 p.m. Sydney, Jan. 27. Further clashes occurred in a special court to-day when Mr. Simon Isaacs, counsel for John Smith Gar-

den, continued his cross-examination of the Federal Minister for External Territories (Mr. E. Ward). Garden is facing charges of having forged and falsified official documents in connection with the lease of timber Jands in New Guinea. When cross-examining Ward on his association with William Morris Urquhart, managing director of the Sydney Pincombe Proprietary, Ltd., Mr. Isaacs asked for the production of the Ministerial appointment book. Turning to the magistrate, Mr. Ward said: I desire that Mr. Isaacs be shown only the relevant section. I understand Mr. Isaacs has a bad record, and I don’t want him to have a look at the book for fear he might do something.” Mr. Isaacs: That is a direct insult, and I demand an apology. I can take a lot, but I won’t take that. When asked by the magistrate what he meant, Mr. Ward replied: “I mean that Mr. Isaacs has a very bad reputation in his profession.” The magistrate then asked Ward to withdraw the remark. Ward: I will withdraw, but my opinion remains the same. Fortunately, I have not known him long. Ward denied that he had paid for shares acquired in the company by Urquhart and that £5OOO allegedy representing his share in £50,000 paid in the purported deal in New Guinea timber concession, had been given to Urquhart. Before Mr. Isaacs resumed his cross-examination, counsel for the Crown (Mr. J. Shand) caused a mild sensation by alleging that the signature on a letter to the Minister had been forged. During questioning concerning Urquhart, Mr. Isaacs asked Ward to answer “yes” or “no” and added: “You are not in Parliament now!” Ward: Yes, and you are not playing solo in some of those city clubs of yours. To further questions Ward said he had recommended Urquhart for a position at Pincombe’s at £2OOO a year after declining the position himself. Mr. Isaacs: The whole position is that Urquhart was to be your dummy? Ward: Definitely no! Questioning Ward about his movements in November, 1947, Mr. Isaacs repeatedly referred him to his appointment book. Ward: You are trying to get information I don’t want you to get. You are trying to get certain dates so that you can frame me! You are particularly anxious to see this book, I know. Mr. Isaacs: Don’t worry about my anxiety. Worry about your‘own! Mr. Shand tendered bank documents showing that Ward had not visited his safe deposit box in the Bank of New South Wales since October 27, 1947. He said a charge had been made in cross-examination that after witness’s wife won £ll,OOO at the races a visit was made to the box in January, 1946. Mr. Shand suggested the box should be brought to the magistrate. Mr. Isaacs: You don’t imagine anything would oe there now, do you? Mr. Shand: There has been no visit since October, which was before this trouble developed. Mr. Isaacs: I don’t know when the trouble first occurred. It was agreed the box should be brought into court to-morrow.