THE PETROL COMMISSION.

Grey River Argus, 13 April 1916, Page 6

THE PETROL COMMISSION.

■ : ♦ — — / MINISTER OF EDUCATION EXAMINED. CHARGES DENIED IN TOTO. (Per Press Association:) (Reed 9.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 12 At the Petrol Commission Hon Mr. Griffith, Minister of Education, examined, said that he under stood that the charge was that through, his agents he. asked that secret commission should be paid to himself or his colleagues by the Company xh rough whom he was doing business, and that charge was supported by strong evidence j both, oral and written. Jlr was absolutely unaware that brokerage was asked for and , asked to be shown where he had I asked for it in any document to ' go before the Cabinet. The whole gravamen of the charge was tha.t there was to be a secret document to be kept sec- ! ret in Australia while satisfying 1 the Company's auditors in England. Had he known that there was no charge of secrecy but merely a scheme of open brokerage to* be paid on the contract he would not 1 have stood down from his admin is trative duties and abandoned his work in Parliament. Giving details of the scheme he said that he chose tho best man ] he could g»et to make enquiries. He told Mr. Reed not to bother ! him with details: also that if the scheme was formulated there would be the possibility of a' charge of corruption against the ' Government by people. He expected that Mr. Reed introduce Mr. Morgan and after the •interview he appointed Mr/ Morgan as agent because lie impressed him as a man knowing all about the oil business. Nothing : was said about payment to Mr. { Morgan because he was represen- ' ling the vendors. j Mr. Griffith declared that he 1 was never a party to getting a : common in connection with the petrol proposal nor any other in tho wide world, nor was there any other Minister. He had absolute confidence in Mr. Reed who was for twenty-five jvars a departmental officer. Mr Morgan had no power to bind the Government. There was absolutely no agreement to pay him brokerage. He was merely authorised to act n» agent and not as broker. He did not for one moment' con template that Mr. Morgan should ask for a commission from the j company as the Government would have paid him for his services. Mr. Rood never mentioned the question of brokerage or commission. Beyond casual reports made by . Mr. Rood during the progress of negotiations he (Mr. Griffiths) was unaware of the real position ofajffairs until the interview where , in. Mr. Holm an explained the char ges.