GRAFT CHARGES.

Grey River Argus, 12 December 1928, Page 5

GRAFT CHARGES.

COMPANY FINED £lOOO — Dramatic Scenes in Court. MALING REFUSES TO GIVE EVIDENCE. IN CASE AGAINST EX ALDERMAN Aus. uad N.Z. Assn and Sun Cable.) SYDNEY, December 11. 1 h’. BabcuCxi unu. \\ kcox Graft case has eonc-uded. Mr Gates the Stipendary Magistrate, imposed a fine of £IUUU and also direc 3 d Babcock to refund to the Sydney City Council within six months, £10,60u. Counsel for the defendant Company applied for a stay in the proceedings. Mr Gates said: “1 must say that a compauy with such a world wide re putaCbn should be the last to be as sociated with a transaction such tiiis. Counsel emphasised that before such a verdict was given,that the court had no power und<r New South Wales statutes to convict the Company. He added that the Corporation had no body or mind of its own, there fore whose action could niaku it liable. Mr Gates reserved his decision on ;his point, A dramatic BCene followed, whn the ease against the former alderman ’Green, commenced. Green was also implicated in graft allegations before the Royal Commission, some tame ago. Green was sitting at the rear of rhe court. The chief witness against him, 6ilas Maling, who had been brought from Long Bay Gaol, was looking Haggard. His hands were smear-, d with motor oils, and his suit was

dirty. He was not the dapp j, weil g*ooined man of form r days. Immediately the charge against Green, of having corruptly received the sum of £7,500 was read, Maling’s name was called and he ntered th.*court under escort of a plain clothf ctxnstable.

He executed in an agitated voice: “I refuse to answer on(l question, while such scoundrels as Arnot and Albert are at liberty. Mr Shand then referred the Magistrate to a section of the Act, providing a ven days gaol for contempt of court. The Magistrate interposed: “Aa you are already serving a sentence, 1 cannot proceed against yo>u now.” Mr Shaud added: “Without Mailing’s evidenc , I cannot proceed with the case against Green. It must be dismissed. ” ‘‘The Magistrate concurred, and Maling was then returned to prison. £250.000 GOVERNMENT CONTRACT LABOUR CENSURE MOTION. SYDNEY, December 11. In the Legislative Assembly, Mr Lang. Leader df the Opposition, launched a censure motion, declaring the action of the Government in consenting to a contract between the railways and Babcock and Wilcox Ltd. involving more than a-quarter of a million sterling for railway equipment, is a grave dereliction of ministerial obligation, deserving of the censure of this House.