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STAR CHAMBER' .
METHODS
Mining Companies Seek
Investigation :
STOCK EXCHANGE BAN
(Australian' Aseiciated Press.)
LWNDON," July 14.
The Cbmnionwealth-liiiing and Finance
Company and seven associated comiipanles,
deahng in whose shares have been banned
I,. the Stock Exchlianee Committee, 'will
seek immediate investigation, of their af
lairs by the Board of Trade. -
Mr. Claudde e. d liernale, mannging.di
iector of the companies,, accused the comi
mittee of "star chamber" mnethods, and
injustice' in reftusinl to'" give reasons' for
the decision. Ho' had suiffered most from
the committee's action. :
"Sir Frank Sanderson (Con,, Earling) will
ask the President of:the Board;of Trade
(Mr. Oliver Stanley) in" the' House of
Commons on:rJuly 18 whether, in view
of the milions of pounds of public money
involvcd, he intends" to' hold an official
inquiry into .the ban,
.Every' single mntter relating to thi ;
compaises and to my private, and family
concernsi.oro open. to the fullest investiga
tion," said Mlr, de Bernales criticising
the committee's decision. ' If 'we have
broken the Company Acts, we are liable
to prosecution. -Knowing that, we will still
ask for the fullest inquiry.
"I have acted honestly, and' am' satis.
lied that, by a, complete Board of Trade
investigation, the 'omipanies and:all con
nected with. them n would bo vindicated.
The ban does not alter the value of our
assets. The committee's .actions have
been 'star ehanmber,' and its refusal to give
reasons for its decision' is ani injustice
to 30,000 shnreholders, and the kind of
justice lo'ne does not expect in Englandl.:
"We are'n eused'of being bad admlisis-"
trators, yet, under our control, thle Great
Boulder'Mine, which was practically dore.
lict, is' now working as well as any mine
in. Australia."
Luxurious, Office Block
Whlle 'Mr. do Bernalcs and lhis co.
directors were' preparing a: circular to
shareholdere, annoulncing the investiga
tion move, his wife and daughter were
on a tour of the £70,000 office block,
which Mr. do' Barnles hIbs built, and
called Westralia House. *The first and
second floors are to be devoted to the
do Bernales companies; and no money hae
been.spared in making them moost imn
posing, " '
Thetfirst floor, 15ft. high, isapanelled in
African mahogany, which .coat £7000. Mr.
do, Bernales's office and the board-room
are hung 'with Flemish tapestries, , and
the luxury bathroom is lined with marble,
of which the bath, woshatand and pedea-.
tal are' also-constructed, The remaining
four' floors are all let, some to companies,
in -whichMr. do Bernales is interested,
.The* city editor of ."The Times" says
shnreholders:. vill now have. the satisfac'
tion of knowing 'that there will .be a
searching inquiry. Meanwhile, they must
suffer' the hardship of not having a market
for. their shares.
$