LABOUR CORRUPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 108, 9 May 1928, Page 7

LABOUR CORRUPTION.

Further Charge of Bribery For Political Seat. MR. CANN'S ALLEGATION. (Received 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Mr. George Cann, former Chief Secretary of the Lang Government, but who was defeated at the last election, makes an additional charge of corruption relating to the manner in which a safe Federal Labour seat was alleged to have been provided for Mr. Theodore. Mr. Cann says that Mr. P. Coleman, M.P., was approached to resign the Reid seat for Mr. Theodore, on a promise of a monetary consideration. Mr. Coleman consulted Mr. Cann, who advised him to decline, saying: "You are not a good Labour man if you acquiesce." Mr. Coleman accepted that advice. A message received on Monday stated that Mr. W. Lambert, M.H.R., declared that while Mr. Theodore, M.H.R., was looking for a safe Labour seat eighteen months ago, he (Mr. Lambert) was offered £8000 as a bribe by a former Labour supporter to abdicate the West Sydney seat to Mr. Theodore, but he declined, though the money was very tempting. Mr. Theodore was afterwards provided with the Dalley seat, Mr. W. Mahoney making way for Mr. Theodore. Mr. Lambert added: "Now I find that the same crowd that offered me £8000 has jockeyed me out of West Sydney Labour selection and I am a beaten man." Mr. Theodore, interviewed, declared that Mr. Lambert's statement was too grotesque to warrant jerious consideration.