FEDERAL POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 July 1930, Page 6

FEDERAL POLITICS

MR THEODORE, RESIGNS

(Australian Press Association.)

SYDNEY, July 6

After completing his Budget statement yesterday, Hon E. G. Theodore tcftidered his resignation as Federal Treasurer.

The Prime Minister, Mr Scull in, has accepted the resignation Having put his official matters in order, the Fedral Treasurer handed over the keys and walked out of the office in the Commonwealth Bank building at Sydney, and then left to go fishing. Thus Mr Theodore-dramatically ended—for a time, at any rate—ltis official career while he was in the midst of preparing his Budget, which was expected to produce, sensations. ,

Mr Theodore had found himself confronted with imputations of the gravest character in connection with charges of corruption and fraud levelled against certain public men by a Commission which inquired into transactions relating to Mungana and Ohillagoe leases in Queensland. CANBERRA, July 4.

Mr Theodore stated, to-night that he had no knowledge of .the‘contents of flie Commissioner’s report. He would have something to say in Sydney during the week-end when he had read it.

Discussing the report to-night, Premier Moore said the question as to whether' any action would be taken against the parties mentioned in the report was a matter for the Crown Solicitor, whose; rCport.l Comes before Cabinet next: week.-

; . . , -tubSYDNEY*-' July 6. Hon Mr-Lyoqs- is ' the Minister regarded as most- likely to 1 succeed Mr Theodore in the Federal Treasurership. ... ■ 1 MAY RETAIN' SEAT IN HOUSE. SYDNEY, July 6. Mr Theodore does not intend to resign his seat in the Federal House. It is stated that the Nationalist party may urge that Mr Theodore’s seat be declared vacant. MR THEODORE’S COMMENT. .. SYDNEY, ' July 'sa Interviewed here to-day-ylHon E. G; Theodore (Federal Treasurer) characterised the Mungana Commission re-port-as a dastardly piece, of partisanship. . The Commissioner, he: said, had condemned him (Mr Theodore)' without hearing him. The Commissioner had probed into his :, Mlil<7ltffC6bWsJ.Tiiid his private affairs, and had closed 1 lie inquiry without giving hin> sitj;opportunity of speaking for him-elf.

Mr Theodore stated v licit lie considered the findings 'tjpbe. yqjust. They were based on the. exp f a'rte statements of his political who had pursued him relentlessly .vjitli the object of driving him out of/politics.

Mr Theodore said that lie never ~had any interest in Mungana. property or the leases. Ho' had been unjustly treated ,and.-the.., matter, .Jia-.jadded,.: could not be allowed to rest where it now stood. ■ ..™..-. r

As to his intfiittionskßcdfMcally,.: he must place himsblF iff "tljc Party’s' hands. He would do anything that was considered necessary to avoid embaiiassing Jhc| Labour Movement on. his account. - T:. 3.

WILL CLEAR HIMSELF J J’( /

SYDNEY, July 6

Mr E. G. Theodore, cx-Federal Treasurer, says that he intends that his period of Ministerial retirement, shall he only sufficient to enable him to clear up the matters arising out of the Queensland Commissioner’s findings so far as tliev'•liocern him.