M.P. Alleges. Bribery At Betting Inquiry

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29383, 9 December 1960, Page 17

M.P. Alleges. Bribery At Betting Inquiry

PERTH, December 8. A Country Party member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly accused a Labour member of passing on a £lO,OOO bribe offer for votes against the recent Totalisator Agency Betting Bill which will abolish licensed betting shops run by bookmakers.

The Country Party member (Mr G. M. Cornell) was giving evidence before a Royal Commission which is investigating bribery offers allegedly made to members of Parliament

Mr Cornell accused Mr E. P. Oldfield (Labour) of mentioning the bribe offer during a conversation in the Parliamentary library. ~ . ' Mr Cornell said he recalled a discussion with Mr Oldfield about rhe middle of October while the betting legislation was before the Assembly. He -said he was not sure who initiated the conversation—it could have been himself. "The conversation would have referred to certain rumours circulating in the House regarding bribery of persons prepared to vote against the tote bill,** said Mr Cornell.

"Oldfield said: ‘What would you do with £10.000?* My reply was: ■lf it had S.P. origin I would probably count it first.' “Oldfield then said: ’lf you are interested later or if you know any of your crowd who is, better let me know.' ’* Via A‘A viaF c'l"-

sequenily discuss the matter with Mr Oldfield but raised it at the weekly meeting of the Liberal and Country Parties. Earlier a retired civil servant told the Commission he had overheard a bookmaker discussing a £25.000 fund to defeat the betting legislation. The man, a former Arbitration Court industrial registrar. Francis Edward Walsh, of South Perth, was today’s first witness. Walsh said he overheard the discussion at a hotel. It took place among a group that he was told were bookmakers. In the discussion it was said that there was £25.000 to stop the legislation in “the fund.” Walsh also told the Commissioner he had heard another discussion recently at Tattersails Club, Perth, of which he was a member. On this occasion he said a wellknown bookmaker named Tudor Graham had given his opinion of the betting legislation in .emphatic terms. He had said: "It will have to be defeated—it is very detrimental to the bookmakers.”