Lease Inquiry

New Facts At Timber

Garden Will Appeal For New Trial

A FURTHER review of what is known as “the New Guinea Timber Lease Case” commenced in Sydney on February 1, in the shape of an inquiry by a Royal Commissioner (Mr. Justice Ligertwood); and it was still going on when this issue went to press.

The history of the wearisome thing was given fully in these pages in Janu ary.

In negotiations and discussions ex tending over the years 1945, 1946 and 1947, a syndicate comprising Mr. “Jock”

Garden (a close and personal, political and Departmental associate of Mr. E. J.

Ward, Australian Minister for Terri tories), Mr. Edward Farrell (a 60-years old mining engineer), Mr. Ray Parer (well-known New Guinea commercial aviator) and Mr. Harcourt Garden (Jock Garden’s son, said to be a “dummy” for Mr. Ward) “sold” timber leases in the Bulolo Valley, New Guinea, to Han cock and Gore, Ltd., a Queensland timber firm, for a large sum, of which £50,000 was paid to the syndicate.

Mr. Garden claimed that Mr, Ward was “in it”, and that a close personal friend of Ward, Mr. William Urquhart (who became managing director of Pincombes, Ltd., Sydney, at Mr. Ward’s nomination) received large sums in cash on Mr. Ward’s behalf.

Mr. Ward, at the end of 1948, reported the circumstances to the authorities, whereupon Garden was arrested, tried twice, convicted of forging a document and sentenced to three years. Next, Garden, his son and Parer were charged with conspiracy, but were foi|nd not guilty. Farrell, who had played a prominent part escaped trial because he was too ill to appear.

As the evidence given in the three trials had reflected in some degree upon Mr. Ward, he sought and was given an inquiry by a Royal Commission. The Commissioner is to investigate certain aspects of Mr. Ward’s administration and his connection, if any, with Sidney Pincombe, Ltd.

So far, the only new evidence given is that Farrell, after getting £50,000 from Hancock and Gore. Ltd., loaned £4,000 to a man named Forshaw, one of Han cock and Gore’s managers. It is claimed that this fact vitiated the evidence of Forshaw, who was the principal witness against Jock Garden in his conviction of forging a document. (Garden said he altered the last page of a letter from Hancock and Gore to the Minister, and signed the name of Forshaw with the knowledge and consent of Forshaw.) Witnesses admitted that, if the fact of Farrell’s loan to Forshaw had been disclosed at Garden’s trial, Garden might not have been convicted of forgery.

Following upon that, it has been an nounced that Garden now will appeal for a new trial or for his sentence to be quashed.

The other new fact brought out is that Farrell had previously been con victed of receiving money under false pretences, and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

After vain attempts to ascertain where the £50,000 went, Farrell was asked to give evidence. He refused, on grounds of ill health. On Feb. 16, he was arrested, brought before the judge and sent for medical examination.—lnquiry proceeding.