ll—4B

1949 NEW ZEALAND

HOLMES CASE STATEMENT CONCERNING THE ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN PAPERS RELATIVE TO

Laid upon the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave

On the afternoon in question I was returning to Parliament Buildings from the Terrace when I saw one of the motor-cars of the Department—a Film Unit car—parked alongside the steps leading to the Terrace. It was obviously not locked because the windows were down, and it was apparent that the back seat was piled with camera gear—camera, tripods, &c. The time when I first saw this vehicle would have been about 5 p.m. I left the Buildings again at about 6.15 p.m. to have a meal in the city and returned to the Buildings after 7 p.m. The motor-car was still there. I was then very concerned because I had had occasion many times previously to comment on misuse of Government vehicles by the Film Unit, and, on this particular day, had mentioned to the acting head at the Film Studio that I was satisfied that vehicles had been used improperly, on this day in particular. I had pointed out to him that one vehicle apparently had been used, for instance, to convey a member or members of the staff to the city, concerning the suggested stop work meeting at Miramar. I had also had occasion, some months previously, to make a special investigation and report on the use, and misuse, of Government vehicles by Film Unit members. With this in mind I decided that if the car was left neglected—and, to my mind in such a way as to be a case of gross carelessness—l would take the camera gear out of it and see that action was taken against the person leaving it. I had some dealings with some members of the Press Gallery soon after 7.30 and I finally left the last of them in the corridor leading out to the Bowen Street entrance. I remember mentioning that I was concerned about the car and the gear. I went to the car at approximately 9 to 9.20 p.m. and, taking the camera and a portfolio case from the back seat, took them to the office of my department in Parliament Buildings.