NORTHERN TERRITORY INQUIRY
FURTHER CHARGES FORMULATED ARRINO MINE CONCESSIONS (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Darwin, December 20. After hearing Judge licvan's e.vidcnco at the Northern Territory inquiry regarding the. Arrino lease, Mr. Justice Bwing formulated a further charge against Dr. G'ilruth and Judge Bcvan, that they wero owners of two-thirds of the Arrino mino taken np in tho namo of Hope, a man without means, and tfliat advances were made and approved by tho Administrator to Hope, that wero really for tho benefit of Hope, Gilruth and Bevan. Another, chargo was also submitted against Bevan, that ho frequently advised the Crown on matters on which, as Judge, ho might havo to sit in judgment, that ho had not administered law and justice in the Territory, and that by his general conduct ho had brought tho judiciary into evil repute and lowered tho dignity of British justice, aud that ho was not a fit person to administer tho law.
In reply to further questions Judgn Bevan denied that ho had obtained special concessions for working the Arrino mine, but he admitted that ho had supplied stores to tho men working in tho mino. Questioned regarding tho leaso of tho Daly mine, and a provision in it stipulating the employment of white labour and preventing others from applying for it, and the subsequent employment of .Chinese and Hack hoys, .Tndge Bevan said ho knew nothing regarding tho conditions until he put in a tender. Ho was asked, if by his influence he got tho ivliito labour stipulations suspended, and replied that he simply made representations and the Director of Mines concurred. ' Ho carried out the stipulation as far as possible. ljnt white labour wa3 unprocurable. Ho denied tliat before taking over the lease ho went to ttio mine-to spy out the land for Dr. Gilruth and himself. Further' questioned about Dr. Gilruth taking a half-sTiaro in tho mino when Judge Bevan was making a dead loss. Judge Bevan said ho was going to throw it up, and probably Dr. Gilruth did not want that, as tho mine was lookimr fairly promising. Ho considered Dr. Gilruth's action that of a very good friend—Press Assn. (Rec. December 21, 5.5 p.m.) Darwin, December 20. Judge Bovan was questioned at length regarding advances of Government money on tho mines in which he was interested. Mr. Justico Ewing pointed out that tho witness had already admitted that the Administrator of the Territory had made advances to himself and others. Judge Bevan denied a suggestion by Mr. Barrett, solicitor, that the representative of the Mines Department was jockeyed into relaxing the whito labour regulations. and that ho would havo lost his job if he had not given tho ruling ho did. Ho mid lie knew nothing about what the Mines Department did. Mr. Barrett interjected: Perhaps Dr. Gilruth looked after that.
Further drastic questioning related to Bevan's administration of justice as a Judge. One incident referred to was tho quashing of a wholo jury panel for alleged irregularity. To Mr.' Barrett's question, "Is it not a fact that no jury will convict anyone before von?" Benin replied, "I have heard that stated."—Press Assn.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 75, 22 December 1919, Page 7
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523NORTHERN TERRITORY INQUIRY Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 75, 22 December 1919, Page 7
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