“NO, THANK YOU”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 356, 17 May 1928, Page 9

“NO, THANK YOU”

JUDGE DECLINES JOB BRIBERY CHARGE INQUIRY (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Reed. noon. CANBERRA, To-day. Sir Adrian Knox, chief of the High Court Bench, informed the Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, that he dec I i nes the Royal Commissionership into the allegations of bribery by Mr. W. H. Lambert, M.P., as he thinks it is inadvisable that a member of the Commonwealth Judiciary should undertake investigations of this nature. In the House of Representatives the Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, had announced that the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Sir Adrian Knox, had been appointed a Royal Commissioner to investigate the charges of attempted- bribery made by Mr. W. H~ Lambert. Mr. Lambert alleged that he was offered £B,OOO by a Labour supporter to resign his seatofor West Sydney in the Federal House of Representatives to Mr. E. G. Theodore, formerly Premier of Queensland, and now member for Dailey. Mr. Bruce said the object of granting a Royal Commission to inquire into Mr. Lambert’s charge was to protect the honour and dignity of the National Parliament. Mr. Theodore, whose seat is involved, said he thoroughly approved of Mr. Bruce’s action. Mr. J. H. Scullin, the Leader of the Opposition, announces that the proposed inquiry by the Labour caucus into Mr. Lambert’s allegation, which had been fixed for to-day, would be deferred, in view of Mr. Bruce’s action, which had surprised the Labour Party. Mr. Lambert had telegraphed saying he was ill.