FRAUD AND MISCONDUCT

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 July 1932, Page 7

FRAUD AND MISCONDUCT

GOODE INQUIRY FINDING

“LIABLE TO PROSECUTION.”

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

SYDNEY, July 27. The Royal Commissioner who inquired into the charges of misconduct against J. C. Goode, Chief Tianspoi Commissioner, and former Superintendent of Goods Traffic, in the New South Railway Department, has presented his report. He finds Goode guilty of serious misconduct, amounting to fraud upon the Railway Commissioners. Three cheques drawn by S. E. Vernon, which went through Goode’s bank account, were paid and received corruptly. Referring to transactions between Goodo and Davis, who was a railway cartage contractor, the Commissioner found Davis received £ 1800 more than he was entitled to from the Railway Department. In relation to certain transactions, Goodo had rendered himself liable to prosecution under the Secret Commissions Act.

The Commissioner ’ was unable to find any proof of misconduct in regard to Goode’s dealings with the British Express Carrying Coy., or in relation to the purchase of twenty motor lorries for use for railway cartage purposes.

TIN HARE SCANDAL.

SWINDELL’S “DOUBLE CROSSING”? _ ■ : SYDNEY, July 27. At the mechanical hare inquiry, Frederick Swindell, further examined, was asked for the reason for splitting a £5OOO cheque into smaller cheques. Swindell replied that it was to make five transactions, thus reducing the rate of taxation. Mr. Monahan, K.C., (assisting the Commissioner): Was it not to defraud the Tax Commissioner? —No. Royal Commissioner: -Wasn't the whole thing a fraud and a farce?—No. The Commissioner: Then it’s a mat- - ter of your standards? —The cheques were made out in others’.names. ,1 got no profit! The Commissioner: You got £5OOO for script, for which you paid nothing? —Yes, but it was only a small profit. ' The Commissibner: That’s a matter

for the Tax Commissioner. Swindell denied the portion of Felix Booth’s evidence, in which he said that if a certain company were formed £7500 should be paid if it got a permit to hold coursing. Michael Gleeson, Director of the Australian Coursing Club, explained the dealings with Swindell, and the anxiety of various clubs to get licenses when the mechanical coursing was re- . stored. He declared that Swindell had, he believed, “double crossed us!” The Commissioner: That . word “double crossed,” apparently, means ' that both parties were in a crooked business, and that one afterwards went crooked on the other. ' Isn’t that the meaning? ' ’-i ■ Witness: No! After the whole thing was legalised, Swindell got oux* licenses from us. Therefore, he “double crossed” his friends and pals. The Commissioner: I must say I don’t know anything/ in the English language sb expressive as “double crossed,” oh anything that corresponds with it. | The hearing-was-adjpurned.