Ballard sat down. Why was I suspended from my duties, Mr Crowell?
It was a unanimous decision of the board.
That is not exactly answering my question, but well let it pass for the moment. You said in evidence that you had nothing to do with my appointment, that you would rather have chosen another man, and that the instructions came from London. Do you usually take your instructions from London, Mr Crowell?
Of course not.
Then where do you take your instructions from?
Why, from... Crowell stopped short. I do not take instructions, as you put it, I am chairman of the company.
I see. Do you regard yourself as a sort of dictator?
That is an insulting question.
Maybe you might think so. All the same, Id like you to answer it.
Of course Im not a dictator.
You cant have it both ways, said Ballard. Either you take instructions or you do not. Which is it, Mr Crowell?
As chairman I assist the board in making decisions. All decisions are made jointly.
A most democratic process, commented Ballard. But the decision to appoint me as managing director was not made jointly by the board, was it, Mr Crowell?
The decision need not be unanimous, said Crowell. As you have pointed out, this is a democratic process where the majority rules.
But not so democratic as to be a one man, one vote system. Is it not a fact that he who controls most votes controls the company?
That is the usual system.
And you said in evidence that the instruction to appoint me came from a majority shareholder in London. Is that shareholder a member of the board?
Crowell twitched nervously. In a low voice he said, No, he is not.
Then is it not a fact that your board of directors has no real power and is thus a democratic sham? Is it not a fact that the power to control the company lies elsewhere? In the City of London?
That is a misreading of the situation, said Crowell sullenly.
Let us turn from my appointment to my suspension, said Ballard. Did the instruction to suspend me also come from London?
It may have done.
Surely you know. You are the chairman of the board.
But not concerned with the day to day running of the company.
No, agreed Ballard. That was the function of the managing director. You said so yourself in your evidence. Surely you are not suggesting that I suspended myself?
Dan Edwards could not contain himself. There was a loud snigger from the Press gallery and Harrison looked up, frowning.
You are being ridiculous, said Crowell.
Ballard said drily, Any ridiculousness inherent in this situation certainly does not emanate from me. There remains one alternative. Are you suggesting that the suspension of the managing director was a minor bit of day to day business that was beneath your notice as chairman?
Of course not.
Then you will know where the idea of my suspension originated, wont you?
Now I come to think of it, the instruction for your suspension did come from London.
I see. But that again is not an exact answer to the question. Is it not a fact that you communicated with London because the board is a puppet dancing to strings held in the City of London? Is it not a fact that a suggestion was made by you that the company was in danger of being in bad odour because of evidence to be given at this inquiry? And is it not a fact that you intimated that I, as a Johnny-come-lately, was an ideal person to shuffle the responsibility on to, and that it was then that the instruction was given from London that I be suspended?
Objection! cried Rickman. Mr Ballard cannot lead the witness in this way.
I tend to agree, said Harrison. Such a compendium cannot be permitted, Mr Ballard.
I withdraw the question. Ballard knew, from the rustle in the Press gallery, that he had made his point where it mattered. I shall return to the telephone conversation between Mr Crowell and myself. When you were cut off, what did you do? Oh yes; you talked it over with your wife, didnt you? What was the substance of that conversation?
I dont remember. Crowell added irritably, It was late at night and we were both very tired.
When you were cut off, did you attempt to replace the call?
No.
No? Why not?
You heard my evidence. I thought you were drunk.
How long did you think Id been drunk, Mr Crowell? asked Ballard softly.
Crowell looked startled and uncomprehending. I dont understand the question.
Its quite a simple question. Please answer it.
I didnt give it a thought.
Ballard picked up a sheet of paper. You said in evidence that your secretary had left a number of messages from me. You also said that you judged, from the number and tenor of those messages, that the matter was urgent. Did you think Id been drunk all day? The first call I had was at eleven-thirty that morning.
I told you. I didnt give it a thought.
Evidently not. So you did not try to call me back?
No.
And you did not try to communicate with the Ministry of Civil Defence?
No.
As a matter of interest, Mr Crowell, what did you do? After you had discussed it with your wife, I mean.
I went to bed.
You went to bed, repeated Ballard slowly. Thank you, Mr Crowell. That will be all. He waited until Crowell was rising from the chair and was in a half crouch. Oh, there is just one further thing. Did you come forward voluntarily to give evidence here, or were you subpoenad?
I object, said Rickman. That has nothing to do with anything.
I agree, Mr Rickman, said Harrison smoothly. This Commission need not be instructed that Mr Crowell was subpoenad it already knows. He ignored the indescribable sound that came from Rickman, and continued blandly, And now I think we shall adjourn for lunch.
Fourteen
Over lunch in the restaurant near the Provincial Buildings, McGill said, Youre doing all right, Ian. You got in some good stuff this morning.
Ballard poured a glass of water. I didnt think Harrison would let me get away with it.
Get away with it! God, he compounded with you. He ticked you off when he had to, but he didnt stop you. I thought Id split a gusset when he brought out the bit that Crowell had been subpoenad. He agreed with Rickman and harpooned him in the same breath. McGill paused. I dont think Harrison likes Crowell.
I dont like him much myself.
Youre not doing yourself much good with your family. That histrionic speech about the company dancing to strings pulled in the City of London wont go down well with your uncles back home. Where did you learn to pull a trick like that?
Ballard grinned. Watching the Perry Mason Show. He shrugged. It wont make much difference. Ive already decided to leave the Ballard Group.
After a speech like that youll have to. I cant see any Ballard company hiring you now. What will you do?
Havent made up my mind yet. Something will turn up. He frowned. I keep wondering what Stenning wants.
Do you know him at all?
Not well. The old man relied on him a lot, and I know why. Hes a tough old bird, about as ruthless as old Ben was himself. Ben told him what he wanted to do, and Stenning figured out a legal way of doing it. Hes as sharp as a tack.
You say hes old how old?
Ballard reflected. Hell be pushing seventy now, I suppose. He was much younger than Ben. One of the bright young men that Ben surrounded himself with in the early years.
An old guy of seventy flying half way across the world, mused McGill. Could be important, Ian.
I cant see how.
McGill looked up. Here comes someone else who is not doing herself much good with her family. He stood up. Hi, Liz.
Liz Peterson put her hand on Ballards shoulder. Dont get up, Ian. Hi, Mike.
McGill drew up a chair for her and then sat down. He put out his hand and rubbed Lizs dog behind the ears. Hi, Victor; hows the boy? The Alsatian lolled his tongue and his tail wagged vigorously.
I didnt see you at the hearing this morning, said Ballard.
I was there. Wouldnt miss it for anything. Its just that I wasnt sitting with the boys. I dont like Lyall he gives me the cold grues. Wheres Joe?
Gone back to the hospital. Giving evidence this morning took it out of him.
Liz tapped on the table. My charming brother, Charlie, manufactures the bullets and Lyall fires them. She burlesqued Lyalls accent. Did Mr Ballard drink heavily that night? I damn near cheered when Joe fired that right back. It wounded Charlie to the heart.
Youre not doing yourself much good with them, warned Ballard.
To hell with both of them, she said pleasantly. I only stuck around because of Johnnie, and now hes dead Ill be leaving Huka. Maybe Ill be leaving New Zealand.
A fine pair you are, said McGill. Dont either of you believe in family ties at all?
Not with that pair, said Liz. I nearly gave Charlie a heart attack just now. I said that if anyone implied that Ian was drunk just once more Id offer my services as your witness. I said that I can tell well enough when the man Im dancing with is drunk, and that Ian wasnt but that Charlie certainly was. She laughed. Ive never seen a man go red and white at the same time.
Id be careful, Liz, said Ballard soberly. Charlie can be violent.
Dont I know it! I once had to crown him with a bottle. But I can handle him.
McGill smiled satirically. So unlike the home life of our own dear Queen, he observed.
Ballard said, Thanks for the support, Liz. Ever since the avalanche Ive been depressed, but now the depression is lifting. Ive made a couple of decisions and now the way ahead seems a lot clearer. Youve had a lot to do with it.
I bring more than support, sir I bring information. Rickman and Lyall are cooking up something together. I was driving past the company office just now when they both came out together, laughing fit to bust.
Watch it, Ian, warned McGill. Itll be a pincer movement.
Thanks, Liz, said Ballard.
She looked at her watch. I think Ill sit with the boys this afternoon. I might learn something more. See you at the hearing. She stood up. Come on, Victor.
As she walked away McGill said, The prettiest spy I ever did see. He finished his coffee and looked around for the waitress. Wed better be going, too. By the way, what are these couple of decisions youve made?
As she walked away McGill said, The prettiest spy I ever did see. He finished his coffee and looked around for the waitress. Wed better be going, too. By the way, what are these couple of decisions youve made?
Youve heard one Im leaving the Ballard Group.