"BE A HYPOCRITE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 583, 8 February 1929, Page 9

"BE A HYPOCRITE”

DEFENCE SECRETARY'S ADVICE

CIVIL AVIATION INQUIRY

{Australian and N.Z. Press AssociationJ MELBOURNE, Thursday.

The inquiry into the suspension of Mr. Malcolm L. Shepherd from his post as secretary to the Defence Department was continued to-day before Mr. H. P. Brown. Director of General Postal Services.

In the course of his evidence, Mr. Shepherd stated that when he heard of the friction between LieutenantColonel IT. C. Brinsmead. Controller of Civil Aviation, and Captain H. Larkin, managing director of the Australian Aerial Services, he sent for them and heard their complaints. ITe told Captain Larkin to put his complaints in writing, but the latter failed to do so. Witness described as a malicious lie Captain Larkin’s charges concerning the manner of arranging official tiles for Ministerial signature. Neither was there any truth, he declared, in the allegation that he had suggested bribing Colonel Brinsmead. He disliked intensely being on unfriendly terms with anybody. Mr. W. Ham, K.C., counsel for Captain Larkin: I understand that the fatherly advice you gave Captain Larkin was that a man of his type should be a hypocrite in order to prosper in business. Witness: Yes. You really mean that a man should be a hypocrite?—Yes. Do you really suggest that Captain Larkin thought it advantageous to his company to quarrel with the head of the department?—He said so himself. Colonel Brinsmead’s evidence included references to various air contracts. chiefly in Western Australia. Witness gave details of his relations with Captain Larkin. He denied everything in the nature of bribery and declared that he never at any time gave preference to other aviation firms. Witness continued: “For many years Captain Larkin made my life unhappy, with the result that I had to convince successive Ministers I was not an unmitigated scoundrel. I may have said I was prejudiced against Captain Larkin’s company. “This man Larkin is the only man in the whole aviation world from whom this sort of thing comes.” The inquiry was again adjourned.