PETROL'SCANDALS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2741, 8 April 1916, Page 5

PETROL'SCANDALS

EVIDENCE AT THE ROYAL COMMISSION SOME MORE LETTERS " LABOUR PARTY FALLING FROM GRACE" By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ■ Sydney, April 7. Before the Petrol Commission, Mr. Wagstaffe gave evidence that the 1 per cent, commission meant at least- £8000 per annum for Morgan. Ho expressed the opinion, that-Reed" was an honest man at heart, but had been very foolish. i A letter written by Mr. Black, Sydney manager of the company, to Mr. AVagstaife, was read, expressing the opinion that the _Labour_ Party was falling from grace in wanting to rush the petrol business through-and get the pickings, and -thus, be secure in the eve'nt of a defeat at the elections. Mr. Blaok described ideas as hellish, and it.was degrading to think that Ministers would stoop so low as to sell their country for personal gain. He trusted to God that the company's London board would turn the proposal down. ... In ; another 'letter, informing. _ Mr. •Wagstaffe that the company's solicitor had placed the whole facts before Mr. Holman and Mr. Hall, Mr. Black said: "Our solicitor is convinced that Mr. Holman and Mr. Hall were absolutely ignorant of any move leading the into such a - position as the Minister for Education has landed ' them. Both- - were greatly cut ,up, and you can be - assured that they know,-:uothing of . . ■ the proposition." . A letter from the' company's London board, turning down the proposals, Raid:— v 0 "We are absolutely astounded that such proposals/ should be put forward by a responsible Government of a British colony through a broker acknowledged'by Mr. Griffith as his officiaj agent." MR. WAGSTAFFE GROSS-EXAM- , - . INED. ' , • (Rec/April'7, 10 p.m.) Sydney, April 7. Mr. Wagstaffe, cross-examined, said that neither Reed nor Morgan objected to his btatemant that any brokerage or commission would have w be shown ciearly in.nny document' recording the - 'sale."' .Amongst several letters read .was one from Mr. Waxman, the British Im-/ perial Company's solicitor, to Mr. Wag6taffe, in which the writer declared that Mr. Holman vthe Statet Premier) and 'Mr. Hall would feel intensely the mere possibility of the Morgan proposal filtering through to London as having emanated from thein or from the,'ibvernment cs such, and urging that these gentlemen should be freed as far as possible fr< in the taint that otherwise would affect their names end reputations in London. Mr. AVagstaife, writing to Mr: Black after tho facts Lad been placed before Mr. Holman and Mr. Hall, said: ' - "It looks as though we have won hands down, by defeating the Governmenton this .particular plank of their platform. I intend'to put the matter beforo Mr. Waxman in such a way as to be able to show the ■ Premier the advisability of committing' it to black and white, 'that this ,idea is noi to be proceeded with, because I want to sepd that to London. .Such,a declaration by him would leave lim • his freedom in London, and permit of his having the entree to our principals, whose doors, .under existing circumstances,-most certainly will-be closed against him." * Attorney-General's Evidence., r ' The New South Wales State Attorney! General (Mr. D. li.. Hall), in the course of his evidence, 6aid that there was no trace of Government remuneration or payment to Morgan, bijt Reed had .mentioned that if the scheme came off Morgan would expect a good Government job.