CO129-359 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [12] — Page 91

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Tatam in 1904 his Solicitor wrote to the Registrar of the Supreme Court making the same charge against me as that which I am now called upon to answer, but I was not required by the Registrar to answer the said charge, nor did it appear that he considerad my conduct in the matter to have been incorrect. 12. Although by Rule 40 of the Colonial Regulations salaried publie officers are prohibited from engaging in trade, or employing themselves in any commercial undertaking, by Rule 41 it would appear that they are not prohibited from holding any local investment, or from being connected with any undertaking, unless such investment or connection may bring their private interests into conflict with their public duties.

Having regard to the foregoing facts I have the honour to

submit:-

(1) That in advancing money to my then friend John Tatam for the purpose of enabling him to commence, and carry on,

business in this Colony; and in subsequently assisting him for a brief period, during my spare time, in making up his books and accounts, I was neither engaged in trade, nor was I

employing myself in a commercial undertaking within the

meaning of Rule 40 of the Colonial Regulations.

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(2) That, in so doing, I was not being connected with any undertaking which might bring my private interests into real or apparent conflict with my public duties, nor was I thereby

influenced in the discharge of my duties.

(3) That, assuming it to be considered by His Excellency the

Governor that I acted incorrectly in interesting myself in the

manner in which I did in the business of the said John Tatam,

the facts that I believed at the time that I was not incorrect

in so acting, that the events in question happened fourteen

years ago, that such events were brought to the notice of the

head of my Department in the Government service over five years