The Snow Tiger / Night of Error. Desmond Bagley
led up to the avalanche at Hukahoronui, during the avalanche itself, and what happened afterwards.’
He leaned back in his chair. ‘Adversary tactics, such as are common in law courts, will be frowned upon here. We wish to find the truth unimpeded by legal technicalities, and the reason we wish to find the truth is to make certain that such a disaster does not happen again. The force of this consideration is so great that the Commission hereby rules that any evidence given here may not be used in any future legal action other than criminal which may eventuate as a result of the avalanche at Hukahoronui. The protection of lives in the future is of more importance than the punishment of those who may be felt to be guilty of acts of omission or commission arising out of the disaster. The Commission is legally empowered to make such a ruling and I hereby do so.’
Gunn hastily rose to his feet. ‘Mr Chairman; do you not think that is an arbitrary decision? There will be matters of compensation arising. If interested parties are denied the use of evidence in a future legal action, surely an injustice will be done.’
‘Mr Gunn, I have no doubt that the government will appoint an arbitrator who will study the findings of this Commission and make the necessary dispositions. Does that satisfy you?’
Gunn bobbed his head, a pleased expression on his face. ‘Indeed it does, Mr Chairman.’
Dalwood murmured to Edwards, ‘No wonder he’s pleased. It’s all going to happen here – a bloody drumhead courtmartial with no holds barred.’
Edwards grunted. ‘He’ll not get much past old Harrison.’
‘And now we come to the question of witnesses. Some citizens have come forward voluntarily to give evidence here, others have been subpoena’d by one or more of the interested parties.’ Harrison frowned. ‘I, and my fellow members on the Commission, have been much exercised as to how the evidence should be taken, and we have decided that it shall be taken in chronological order, insofar as that is possible. Because of this, any person giving evidence may be asked to step down before his evidence is wholly completed if we find it necessary to do some filling in. It follows, then, that all witnesses should hold themselves in readiness at all times during the sitting of the Commission.’
‘Mr Chairman!’
Rickman was on his feet. Harrison said, ‘Yes, Mr Rickman?’
‘Such a condition is likely to be onerous on certain of the witnesses. Some of them are busy men with duties which lie outside this room. This is likely to be a long inquiry and I do not feel that such a condition is entirely fair.’
‘When you refer to certain of the witnesses can I take it that you refer to Mr Ballard?’ asked Harrison drily.
‘Mr Ballard is one such witness,’ conceded Rickman. ‘Out of consideration for him it would be better if he could give his evidence and retire.’
‘Is Mr Ballard a citizen of New Zealand?’
‘No, Mr Chairman; he is a United Kingdom subject.’
‘And would his retirement from this hall be as far away as England?’
Rickman bent down and spoke quietly to Ballard who replied in equally low tones. Rickman straightened. ‘It is true that there are certain matters in the United Kingdom which urgently require Mr Ballard’s attention.’
Harrison’s voice was cold. ‘If I thought it was Mr Ballard’s intention to leave New Zealand during the sitting of this Commission I would ask the relevant authority to relieve him of his passport. This inquiry is a serious matter, Mr Rickman.’
‘I am sure it is not Mr Ballard’s intention to flout the authority of the Commissioners,’ said Rickman hastily. He bent down again and spoke to Ballard, then he rose and said, ‘Mr Ballard has no intention of leaving New Zealand at the present time.’
‘I would prefer to hear that from Mr Ballard.’ Harrison leaned forward. ‘Is that correct, Mr Ballard?’
Ballard stood, and said in a low voice. ‘That is correct, sir. My time is at the disposal of the Commissioners.’
‘In that case you will have no objection to attending this inquiry with the rest of the witnesses. Thank you.’
In the Press gallery Edwards said, ‘My God! Whoever Rickman is representing, he’s not representing Ballard. He set him up just to knock him down.’
Harrison said, ‘This inquiry will not have the formality of a law court, but neither will it be a free-for-all. Representatives of the interested parties may address the witnesses at the discretion of the Chairman. It will not be necessary to disturb the sacro-iliac by standing each time – a mere raising of the hand will suffice. The assessors may question the witnesses in their respective fields of expertise.’
He put his hands together. ‘Since we are gathering information in chronological order it becomes necessary to decide at which point of time to begin. From depositions laid before the Commission I gather that it was the appearance of Mr Ballard in Hukahoronui which led to a series of events which may – or may not – have relevance to the disaster which took place some weeks later. That is for this inquiry to decide. Be that as it may, I think the first witness should be Mr Ballard.’
Reed, the secretary, said, ‘Will you come forward, Mr Ballard, and sit down there?’ He indicated an ornately carved chair a little to the right of the rostrum. He waited until Ballard was seated, then said, ‘Your name is Ian Dacre Ballard?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘And you are managing director of the Hukahoronui Mining Company, Proprietary, Limited?’
‘No, sir.’
A hum as of a disturbed hive of bees filled the air. Harrison waited until it had died away, then said quietly, ‘All present will be silent during the questioning of witnesses.’ He leaned forward. ‘Thank you, Mr Reed; I’ll take it from here. Mr Ballard, at the time of the avalanche were you managing director of the company?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Can you give me a reason why you are no longer in that position?’
Ballard’s voice was colourless. ‘I was suspended from my duties a fortnight after the disaster.’
‘I see.’ Harrison’s eyes flicked sideways as he saw a hand raised. ‘Yes, Mr Gunn?’
‘Can the witness tell us who owns the Hukahoronui Mining Company?’
Harrison nodded to Ballard, who said, ‘It’s a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Zealand Mineral Holdings, Limited.’
‘And that company is just a shell instituted for legal and financial reasons, is it not? Who owns it?’
‘It is owned substantially by the International Mining Investment Corporation.’
‘And who has the controlling interest in the International Mining Investment Corporation?’
‘Mr Chairman!’ Rickman said sharply. ‘Is there provision in your procedure for objections?’
‘Of course, Mr Rickman. What is your objection?’
‘I cannot see what this line of questioning has to do with an avalanche on a hillside.’
‘Neither can I,’ said Harrison. ‘But no doubt Mr Gunn can make it clear.’
‘I think the answer to my last question will make it quite clear,’ said Gunn. ‘I asked who owns the controlling interest in the International Mining Investment Corporation.’
Ballard raised his head and said clearly, ‘Ballard Holdings, Limited, registered in the City of London.’
Gunn smiled. ‘Thank you.’
‘Well, well!’ said Edwards, scribbling rapidly. ‘So he’s one of those Ballards.’
Dalwood chuckled. ‘And Gunn is gunning for Rickman. Up the workers and down with international