Lay Trial Showed Up Extraordinary

[?]ling [?]ucracy

Bsip Copra Handling System

Indications of a system of copra handling in Gizo, BSIP, inefficient that it borders on the fantastic, is the main result a private investigation conducted by PIM following allegations ide in Sydney in April by Alistair Imlay that he had been jtimised by the Protectorate Government.

5 system of handling copra as in force up until the end : last year but may (or may have been changed since, ay told PIM in Sydney that he one to the BSIP as a produce ;tor in 1954. He was dismissed months ago after he had been ;ted on 24 counts relating to tions of having forged copra etc. ay had been appointed to the while in London, where he jeen working for a building He knew nothing about copra is only tropical experience had m a tea plantation in Ceylon, brt had apparently been made ain a person skilled in copra, from the Protectorate or from id joining Territory of New a.

Prior to reaching the Protectorate, Imlay did not know that his main duty would be the inspection and grading of copra. The only instruc tion given him in this was that he was handed a short pamphlet and a form setting out the points system on grading used in the Protectorate.

To this man was then entrusted the responsibility of grading the whole of the copra passing through Gizo. Not long after his arrival at Gizo he was told that he was to train a native assistant grader, named Hiva. This native had for some years been employed at a mission school, but had no experi ence in copra. Imlay’s instructions to him in copra grading merely con sisted of passing on to him those he himself had been handed.

Within a short period Hiva was

-rading, without assistance, the npra brought in by natives. As the Trading Corporation (successors to he old Trade Scheme, and a Gov ernment instrumentality), buyers of the copra, would not accept certi ficates signed by Hiva, but only those signed by Imlay, the practice was that Hiva would fill in the certificates in regard to copra in spected by him, and Imlay would sign them. On the copra being passed it was weighed by a native employee of the Corporation.

There never was at any time, any supervision of this native’s work, so that the weighing of the whole of the copra at Gizo, whether European or native pro duced, was entrusted to a native who was under no supervision. (This was admitted at Imlay’s trial by the Gizo manager of the Corporation.) After native copra was weighed, the weight-slip and grading certi ficate were handed to the owner, who took them to the office of the Trading Corporation and was paid in cash, according to the information on the documents. No proper stock checks were ever made to indicate whether there were deficiencies in copra stocks.

It appears that Imlay had been “investigated” over a period lasting some months, and had been trans ferred to Honiara and left in much doubt, before charges were preferred against him.

The Crown then alleged that copra-grading slips and weight notes were issued at Gizo for native copra and cash collected against these notes, when in fact the natives had not delivered any copra at all.

The main Crown witnesses were the assistant copra grader, Hiva,

and the two copra weighers wH served consecutively.

These put themselves forwr accomplices with Imlay, aj that although the weighers sented notes in respect of thetical copra and obtained : and were assisted in this by’

hree were, in fact, instructed nlay and passed the money on m Imlay’s trial the Crown pro i a number of natives whose s had been used on inspection icates and weight notes, but swore that they had not de d the copra. It was clear that ash was collected against docu

-5 for hypothetical copra,

ay strongly denied that he n any way implicated, and his el was able to prove this to atisfaction of the Court; for pie, the names used were of real natives from a number lages. These were known to Hiva and the weighers, but quite unknown to Imlay. in, the stories of Hiva and ivo weighers differed so much cross-examination that they Dt hold together.

Crown case collapsed and the iey-General did not even r to address—stating that the i relied on the evidence of ccomplices and it was up to ourt as to whether it was pre to believe it or not. xy was acquitted on all charges.

Imlay’S Story

sydney, in late April, Imlay id that he had been posted to izo a few months after he d in Honiara in 1954, said that in September, 1956, d gone to Honiara, and on the with him returning to Gizo Police Inspector Semple. He leard from some Chinese, the jer of the Trading Corpora ind from his own wife, that dice were “investigating” him. an interview with the police, s “high standard of living” ommented upon, and he was where he had found the ■ to buy a refrigerator. Imlay tie told the police he had je d money to buy the refrig as the Government refrig -5 were inadequate.] dew of this investigation he signal to Honiara and asked transfer, or suspension, until 5 cleared. He was transferred liara, but was not suspended. ,s given other duties.

Honiara he had a discussion he Acting Senior Agricultural • (Mr. C. Mead), who advised :> get a solicitor. Imlay said successfully pressed Mr. Mead :ther information. ;hat time Mr. Dudley Jones, aul solicitor, was in Honiara, had a discussion with him old him what had occurred, mes had advised him not to any statement if and when > charged. Mr. Jones saw the ey-General and was informed everal charges were to be laid t Imlay. •tly after, Imlay said, he dis ci that Inspector Semple again to Gizo to investigate a >e complaint that he (Imlay) king 10 per cent, of the value

of copra brought in. When Inspector Semple returned to Honiara no action was taken against Imlay.

Another police officer, Assistant- Superintendent Yates, then went to Gizo and returned with 13 witnesses.

Imlay said he knew only three of the witnesses. One was a native copra grader who had worked under him in Gizo, and the other two were copra weighers who operated the scale in Gizo.

On November 21, he was arrested at his home, taken to the police station, and charged on eight counts of having forged copra and weight slips; eight of having obtained money on forged weight and copra slips; and eight of having

uttered slips, knowing them to be false ' ' Imlay alleged to PIM that before his trial the Government had adopted “pin-pricking” tactics against him in refusing him legal aid*, by stopping him from working, by cutting his salary by £75, and by attempting to shift him to a house four miles out of Honiara.

He said that he and his wife were ostracised by all except people en gaged in commerce, who reserved judgment, and were fair.

Judicial Commissioner’S

Opinion

Imlay’s case was heard by Judicial

* There is no provision in BSIP for supply ing legal aid.

missioner Barwick and three ssors. giving his judgment, the cial Commissioner said that the e system of copra handling at was mos" unsatisfactory; he ted that a copy of the judgment ;nt to the BSIP Copra Board the Trading Corporation.