WHO TOLD?

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 96, 16 January 1918, Page 11

WHO TOLD?

CIVIL SERVICE LEAKAGE IN aUSTUAL-U. The disappearance of a document from the Premier's office during tho lleferendum campaign ha,s resulted in I a strict inquiry boing instituted. It J now appears that tho document, which was prepared by the Premier at tho request of Ministers to furnish suggest tions for securing better reinforcements ior the front, was copied and supplied by some- unauthorised; person to those likely to make political capital out of it.. The publication, of the document by the Anti-Conscri.ptionist. organisation was. withheld till'a little while before the vote. Its issue was timed at what was considered the psychological moment. The question who betrayed tho contents ot an official document to outside purees it\ to engage the attention of the Public Service Board at au early date. An ollicer in the Premier's department willbe the respondent to the allegation that he infringed the obligations of jhis office by surreptitiously 'copying tbe document and supplying it to a member of the Anti-Conscription Party. ■ The Public Service Jioard will at the same time inquire whether a general system of espionage prevails in the various Government departments. There is reason to believe that tho leakage of tho confidential memorandum from the Premier's Department is not an isolated leakage,, aiid that each Department has its spies for outside political organisations. • . It is well known (states the Sydney "Sunday Times") that during the first Referendum campaign the Prime Minister, Mr. Hughes, complained bitterly of his opponents being mysteriously supplied with the contents of private telegrams sent by or to him, and even of the substance of telephonic messages. In the end the Prime Minister had recourse, for the- purpose of maintaining secrecy in efficiat communications, to wireless telegraphy. ' Where it.is mere political fanatacism or unscrupulousness which is responsible for this supposed general leakage of confidential official documents or worse is a matter that requires clearing up for tho sake of the good name of Australian public sen-ants generally. Of • course,. as in . the case of stolen goods, the receiver is considered in law equal.'; culpable as the thief.