CURIOSITY IN HOUSE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1013, 2 July 1930, Page 1

CURIOSITY IN HOUSE

RESIGNATION OF POLICE COMMISSIONER NO REASON IN LETTER THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The exact reasons for the resignation of Commissioner of Police W. B. Mcllveney were hard to find in the House of Representatives this afternoon, although members were persistent in their questions. The Minister of Justice, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, said that he had simply received the letter of resignation from the commissioner, without any reason being given. The subject was brought up by Mr. A. M. Samuel (Reform—Thames), who said that there were persistent rumours that Mr. Mcllveney had resigned because of political interference in the administration of his department, and because of the overriding of statutory authority. To allay public uneasiness, he asked the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, to contradict the rumours. The Prime Minister said that part of the question would be answered by the Minister of Justice, in reply to Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour —Avon), He would give an emphatic denial to the statements of political interference or the over-riding of statutory authority. Mr. Sullivan asked the Minister of Justice what the real reason for the resignation was. The Minister said he had received the letter advising him of the resignation, but there was no reason given. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland: But has the Government no knowledge of the reason? Mr. Cobbe: We have no definite information.