SYDNEY WHEAT SCANDAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 290, 4 December 1920, Page 7

SYDNEY WHEAT SCANDAL.

PAYMENT TO LABOUR PARTY.

DENTED BY MRS. GEOKGESON

SYDNEY, December 3

In his evidence at the inquiry into the allegations of corruption in connection with the Wheat Contract Commission, Mr. O. Cann, Minister of Works, stated that Mrs. Georgeson saw him and complained regarding the harsh terms which Mr. John Storey, Premier of New South Wales, was using respecting her husband over the wheat inquiry. She alleged that an understanding had been reached between Mr. Carl Johnston, a, member of the Legislative Assembly, and Mr. James Dooley, chief secretary, that £500 should be given for election expenses on the understanding that Georgeson should not be further proceeded against. She also stated that the undertaking had been given through a go-between that' Mr. Storey would agree to this arrangement. If Georgeson were forced into court she intended to' bring the matter before the comnjission, or she would get a Nationalist member to move a, motion of censure on the Government to bring The matter out. Mr. Cann said he understood that £500 was paid out of the Georgeson-Tulbot estate.

Mrs. Georgeson gave evidence that she had not given money to anybody to have the Wheat Commission stopped, nor had anybody made overtures to her. When her husband became ill, all his papers were handed to his solicitor.

I In reply to the question did she tell Mr. Cann that the papers showed that [ £500 had heen paid by Talbot to a member of the Labour party, she replied: "I had no papers. This money was given after my husband -became ill. She added that Talbot told her he gave £500. She answered that she would not be a party to giving money in that way. She supposed Talbot gave the money because he wished to make a donation.

Georgeson's solicitor gave evidence that not a farthing during the last three years had been paid improperly out of Georgeson's account.—(A. and N_.)

VISITING SWIMMERS. MISS BLEIBTREY COMING. (Received 0.30 a.m.) -JEW YORK, December 3. Miss Ethelda Bleibtrey, the American lady swimming champion, has announced acceptance of Australia's invitation to join the American swimmers, Duke Pao Kahanamoku, Ludy Longer, and Pao Kealoha, on their tour of Australia. Miss Bleibtrey sails by the Makura from Vancouver on December 15.—(A. and N.Z.) FUEL FROM PEAT. COMPANY'S HEAVY LOSSES. (Received- 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 3. The shareholders in Wet Carbonising, Ltd., which was formed in 1012 to utilise Scottish peat for fuel, decided to go into liquidation. Mr. Gerald Balfour, chairman of directors, stated that the liabilities totalled £372,000, and the assets immediately available were practically nil. The firm owed the Government £200,000. The directors and their families had invested £405,000 in the company. The failure was due to the war and the financial stringency.—(A. and N_. Cable.) The "Truth" newspaper stated recently that the directors of a carbonising company which was formed in 1912 to utilise Scottish peat for fuel purposes had decided to wind up the company's affairs. The paper said that hundreds of thousands sterling were lost. Mr. A J. Balfour, a member of the Cabinet, was the largest individual shareholder. He invested £60,000 in the concern. His brother, Mr. Gerald W. Balfour, who was chairman, was also a large shareholder. WOOL FROM AFRICA. FOR THE CENTRAL POWERS. CAPETOWN, December 3. Speaking at a conference of wool and mohair farmers at Bloemfontein held to consider the position of the market, with the object of relieving the present stringency, the Minister of Industries, Mr. F. *8. Malan, said that so far as the Government was concerned, the only possible remedy was to send the wool to the Central Powers. The Government .had two schemes in view—first, to advance wool to Germany on the security of £10,000,000 worth of former enemy property in South Africa; secondly, to exchange wool for German manufactures. i_i special "commissioner and commission oT three were at present in Europe in connection with these schemes. —(A. and N.Z. and Reuter.)