BRIBE PROVED

Grey River Argus, 13 February 1928, Page 5

BRIBE PROVED

BY LABOUR LEADER Coal Coy. Director's Admission tSYUIvEx, Feb. 1. Ln an uflicial statement telegraphed x'rui.i Hobart, Air lx. N. Kirk, one of the directors of Hie Blockton Borehole Collieries, staled lie paid Mr Hoare, a Labour Lnion leader, a bonus to keep the mine working. Ill’ sax's mat lor a long time the colliery was subjected tn irritation tactics and lengthy stoppages. The situation became intolerub.e, ami it was thought that the President of the Miners’ Federation might be disposed to consider an arrangement for maintaining peace, tl seemed worth while paying the President of' the Federation an insurance

premium based on the tonnage output, tu secure a continuity -of work for the colliery and induce the men to obey the awards.

Mr Kirk says; — “I did not disclose the details to my co Directors or to the Secretary of my Company, who were quite unaware of the payments made to or through Mr Hoare. Such payments were made by me out of the selling commission paid me by the colliery company, and from an allowance made by the Broken Hill I’roprietarv “Coy., who were anxious to keep the pit regularly at work in the interests of the steel works. Mr Buttenshaw, Acting Premier, announced that the Cabinet on Tuesday would consider a request for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire info the bribery charges made by Mr Hoare, in connection with the Stockton Borehole Colliery. COMMUNISTS EXCLUDED FROM A.L.P. SYDNEY, February 12. The Metropolitan Conference of the wtralinii Labour Party overwhelmingly declared against the admission of members of the Communist Party.