ALLEGED BRIBERY

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 May 1930, Page 7

ALLEGED BRIBERY

“BROADCASTING” COMPENSATION

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

CANBERRA, May 8

Startling allegations of bribery were disclosed by the Prime Minister, Mr J. H. Scullin, in the House of Representatives to-day. The Prime Minister stated that Mr Rowland Green, who was a member of the Public Works Committee, had informed him that every member of the Public Works Committee, except Mr Green himself, had accepted a, bribe from an unnamed man, who desired a. decision in favour of the A Class broadcasting stations in their claim for compensation from the Government, following on the taking over of these stations. Mr Scullin announced that the allegation would be investigated without delay, and said that the investigation by the Committee into the Broadcasting Stations’ claim had been temporarily suspended. li The chairman of the Committee, Mr Coleman, M.P., who had denied having received a £5OO bribe, had asked Mr Rowland Green whether he could identify the strange man who approached him on the verandah of Parliament House with an offer of £2OO. Mr Green said that he could. That man. according to Mr Green, had said: “Coleman has earned his five hundred,” and asked him not to bo a “darned fool,” adding “Why stand in your own light?” Mr Green declared that he had made no reply. He was simply astounded. Later on Mr Green brought the matter up in Committee, upon which every member of the Committee denied having been approached.