SIR THOMAS BENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 549, 2 July 1909, Page 5

SIR THOMAS BENT.

ILLEGAL fiXVENDWUkiS Of £175,000. (By 'I'tlegraph.-Vrogs ASbuciation'.-Oopyrtght,) , ■ Melbourne, July 1. Thfe i-oport of tho Committee on Public Accounts, in icgaiU to tho alleged illegal ospendituro' l of publio inouuys without the sanction of Paiiiaineut, has been presented to the Victorian Assembly. ■ Tho committoo found that Sir, Thomas Mont," in giving certain lualruotious, ,aoted unconstitutionally and illegally. Tho ; sum of £175,000 was so expended. [Last December, when Sir Thomas Bont's Gorernment was defeated in the Victorian A&sombly, Sir Tboinas lient induced the Qovernor (fair Thomas Gibson-Carmlchaei) to grant a dissolution, Thoro were niauy protests in the Assembly, which loused to gunt supply. Sir Thomas Bent, uevertholeos, went to the electors, it boing renounced that ho had found that ho could manage without &uuply." His Government being doieated at tho elections, Sir Thomas Bent was replaced by Mr. liurSIR THOMAS, Mil. MACOV, AND THE LAND CHARGES. Molbourno, July 1. -' With regard ta the Itoyal Oominlsslon which is inquiring into Sir Thomas' Beat's land transactions, inquiry indicates that tho oath of secrecy, taken Bβ a Cabinet Minifi« ter, by Mr., J. B. Jlnekoy, when, ho joined Sir Thoinae Bont's Ministry, In no way interferes with_ his giving ovidonco bofore a Royal Commission. A Minister is only bound to seorecy when requested.