The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1931. THE MUNGANA LEASES.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1931. THE MUNGANA LEASES.

If the Crown had been successful in the Mungana, leases ease, which was concluded at Brisbane on Monday, says the Otago Times, a stigma would have been fastened on Mr Theodore, Treasurer in the Commonwealth Government, that would inevitably liave necessitated the abandonment of his political career. The finding of the, jury in favour of the 1 defendants will be received with satisfaction because it is plainly of the highest importance to the public that the imputation of corruption shall not attach to the names of men occupying positions of trust and responsibility in Ene service of the State. Me are not concerned to attempt to reconcile the finding of the jury with the report of Mr Justice Campbell who, acting as a Royal Commissioner, held an investigation last year into the history of the Mungana leases and reported that. Mr Theodore and others, including Mr M'Cormick, a former Premier of

Queensland, as Mr Theodore also was, had been guilty of fraud and di honesty in procuring the purchase of the Mungnna mines by the State and that the money shared between them had been fraudulently obtained. It is impossible, lidwever, to overlook the fact that the action which has now resulted in a decision that conflicts with the judgment of the Royal Commission has been of a searching and exhausting description Of these the proof is provided in the fact that it was us far back as July 22 that the action

was begun, so that the trial occupied more than four weeks. It may also be observed that the decision in favour of the defendants would have been more satisfactory to the public than it is if Mr Theodore had submitted himself for examination. Neither before the Royal Cmpmitsshn, however, nor in the civil action did lie tender himself as a witness, and the fact is necessarily one that exposed him to Unfavourable comment. Undoubtedly Mr Theodore would have occupied a higher palee in popular Opinion today if lie had personally, under cfosstxaivGnatioii) justified hrs actions as a MiiiisteJ* of the Crown iu relation to the lenses. The jury in Brisbane has, however, given him a handsome exoneration from the serious imputation under which he has existed for over twelve months, ard, ns we have indicated, the. result is satisfactory in the respect that it is of great public moment that the country should he able to repose confidence dn the honour of tliosJ to whom be has entrusted the rpspndbility of controlling its national affairs.