BRITISH BRIBERY CHARGE

Grey River Argus, 20 October 1943, Page 6

BRITISH BRIBERY CHARGE

OVER AIRCRAFT CONTACT. EX-N.Z. FOES'TRY PROMOTER INVOLVED. LONDON, Oct. 18. A former Aucklander Rex Morley Hoyes, who arrived in London in 1931 representing Matahina Forests, and who married Lady Waleran • in 1935, figures in a Bow Street Police Court case. As managing director of the Cun-liffe-Owen Aircraft Limited, he is accused of corruptly making gilts of £lOOO and £2OO to Harold Lavers Armstrong, Director-General oi Aircraft Production at the Ministry of Aircraft Production, and to Henry George Bloss, Deputy-General of Aircraft Production, who were summoned respectively! for accepting such gifts. The Prosecutor said that when it was proposed to increase production of Seafires, Armstrong and Bloss recommended the Hoyes Company which got .one and a quarter of a million sterling contract on January 15, for making 250 Seafires. While the negotiations were going on, Armstrong received two cheques for £5OO and Bloss one for £2OO. Armstrong repaid Hoyes on March 3. Hoyes, when seen next day by Superintendent Burt, threatened to have the matter raised in the House .of Lords. At another interview he got veryj excited and said he would see the Prime Minister. Bloss when questioned, buried his head in his hands and said: “1 see I have been trapped. What a fool I am. I thought 1 was wise, 1 can see through all now. 1 will help you all I can/T

Armstrong, in an alleged statement, said he had been in financial difficulties over income tax. The hearing was adjourned to Nov. 3.