“Charges Are False!”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1019, 9 July 1930, Page 9

“Charges Are False!”

THEODORE’S SPIRITED REPLY

Mining Lease Scandal

ACCUSED MEN ASK FOR COURT TRIAL

ALL the charges are false—damnably false,” declared 3lr. E. G. Theodore, ex-Federal Treasurer in Australia, in asking for a court trial on the Queensland mining lease charges preferred against him by a Royal Commission. Mr. Wm. McCormack, ex-Premier of Queensland, who also is involved, says the Commissioners’ report reeks with political malice. He, too, asks for a full investigation, hut Mr. A. E. Moore, present Premier, refuses to be rushed.

United P.A.—By Telegraph Copyright Reed. 11.5 a.m. CANBERRA, Today. Mr. E. G. Theodore referred in the House of Representatives yesterday to the charges of fraud and dishonesty laid against him by Mr. Justice Campbell, the Royal Commissioner who inquired into the Mimgana mining leases and Chillagoe smelters transactions in which the former Labour Government of Queensland was involved. In Mr. Theodore’s statement —which had been awaited throughout the Commonwealth with the greatest interest —he concluded by expressing the hope that the Queensland Government would give him an opportunity of answering the charges seriatim by presenting an indictment against him. “I do not want another Royal Commission,” said tlie ex-Treasurer. “I ask for a fair trial after the formulation of an indictment against me covering every one of the charges.” Before Mr. Theodore began to speak the whole of the space in the House was occupied. SCULLIN’S TRIBUTE The Prime Minister, Mr. J. H. Scullin, briefly explained the events which had led to Mr. Theodore's resignation of the Treasurership, and paid a tribute to the manner in which he had carried out his work. He said Mr. Theodore had brought to bear im r mense industry and intellectual capacity in dealing with a complicated and most difficult financial situation —one unprecedented in the annals of the Commonwealth. Mr. Theodore, in the course of a long statement, said he did not want anyone to infer that his retirement from Ministerial office was in any sense an admission that the report of the Royal Commission was justified. He merely desired to correct wrong impressions on two matters which were agitating the public mind. One of these matters was that he had only himself to blame for not appearing before the commission and giving evidence. The terms of reference of Mr. Justice Campbell’s Commission, however, in no way impugned his honour. He had tried to appear before the ; commission at the end of May, but the dates suggested had not been accept- | abl to the commission. COULD NOT ATTEND Next, said Mr. Thee'’ re, he received an invitation to give evidence before the commission on July 7, but that date was not acceptable to him owing to his preparation of iUc Federal Budget. He wrote suggesting, another date after the delivery of the Budget, but received an answer from the commission saying his letter was vague and unsatisfactory. Proceeding. Mr. Theodore said he thought he should have been heard,

particularly as his banking affairs had been raked up by the commission. It would have been following a recognised principle of British justice to have granted an adjournment of the commission, in such circumstances, to enable him to give evidence. “Is it any wonder I have come to the conclusion that I am the victim of a hired assassin?” asked Mr. Theodore. He went on to repeat the charges and said: “I am not going to answer these now. I am looking for a better opportunity. All the charges are false —damnably false.” The ex-Treasurer then read a’ letter he had received that day from his solicitors and counsel before the commission. This stated: —* “The commissioner’s findings are absolutely unjust and biased. There was no oral evidence to connect Mr. Theodore in any way with the charges. We regard it as a scandalous decision, based merely on assumption and inference.’ WILL NOT BE RUSHED A Brisbane message says the Premier of Queensland, Mr. A. E. Moore, said he was not going to be rushed into doing anything that might be absurd. . He pointed out that evidence given before a Royal Commission could not he used against any individual who might be prosecuted. DISCREPANCI ES A Sydney message says Mr. William McCormack, the former Premier of Queensland, in an interview at Darlinghurst Flat, said the Mungana Commission’s report reeked with political malice. It was based entirely on hearsay and inference. He demanded a full investigation of the charges in a court of justice. Mr. McCormack said Mr. Justice Campbell was in error in associating him w'itli Goddard's appointment as general manager of the Chillagoe Smelters. “The fact is.” he said, “that 1 was not a member of the Government until several months later. “The report also condemns the Treasury officials for laxity at the time of the purchase of the Mungana leases. The fact is that the purchase was made upon the report of an independent engineer, Mr. Poole, of Sydney. “The additional factor that £300,000 worth of metal was obtained after the purchase of these mines is given no consideration whatever by the commissioner. I believe that if highgrade ore only had been mined this venture would have proved profitable. “I was unable to attend the Royal Commission owing to a complete nervous breakdown, while in addition I knew that all the records of Mungana were available to anybody who was desirous of probing the history of the transactions.”