NEW GUINEA LAND SCANDAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2155, 2 April 1908, Page 3

NEW GUINEA LAND SCANDAL.

THE SUSPENDED OFFICIAL. STARTLING REVELATIONS. United Press Association —Copyright MELBOURNE, April 1. Papers relating to .the suspension of Mr Drummond, late acting chief Government surveyor at Papua, have been, tabled in the Federal House of Representatives. The suspension followed on a charge of having attempted to evade an order of the Executive Council, that it was not considered desirable that officers of the Land Department should apply for " land. A statement of the case, furnished by Judge Murray-, acting Administrator, shows that in 1007 a syndicate, consisting of Drummond, Pinney, Watt, and M a cal pi no was formed to take up land for; plantation purposes. Drummond and Finney belonged .to the Lands Department, and Watt to the Treasury: Macaipino was not in the Government service. Ardley, who came in later, was district surveyor. Drummond and Pinney applied for two adjoining .blocks of 250 acres. The application came before the Executive Council, ancl was refused. The Government offices were then closed for the Christmas holidays. Immediately after they opened applications were put in for the same land by Watt and Macalpine, and it was a question Whether, this application was not also pn behalf of the syndicate. The minutes of the Land Board showed that the apnlications of Drummond, .Pinney," Watt, and Maeat-.. pine, in which to their knowledge Senator Stamfortli .Smith had an interest, were recommended at a meeting c*f the Land. Board at which no one was present but Drummond. Judge Murray added: ‘ ‘l o have a Government officer sitting on the Land Board for -the. consideration of his own application is practically *.he same thing ,as to allow a magistrate ’ to try a case in which he is a party. . The blame for these extraordinary •proceedings attaches, in his opinion, more to Drummond than to South. It may he urged in Smith's defence that his total want of experience ni departmental procedure compelled him to rely very .largely on Drumadvice. . Mr Deakiii, 'in a minute, considers the (proposed fine of £25 wholly inadequate nunishment for •! inney. On .March 19th Judge Murray .replied that the Executive Council had decided to reduce Pinney s-salary by £25 per annrtin, and if after a vein ' the Department reported »favqjjibly, liis full saliry wouf.d be restored.