ALLEGED BRIBERY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 September 1926, Page 7

ALLEGED BRIBERY

* SENSATIONAL INCIDENT.

IN N.S.W. ASSEMBLY.

MR. LANG'S CHARGES DENIED

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received 10.45 a,.m. to-day.

SYDNEY, Sept. 29. The Premier, the Hon. J. 1'- Lang, during his reply on Mr. Bavin’s censure motion in the Assembly, referring to the -alleged ‘bribery said: “Sitting in this House on the Government side is an honourable member, who will tell the truth and would make oath that he was approached iby a person known as Voltaire Molesworth, a former member of the .Assembly and now managing editor .of the newspaper Daily Guardian, which is bitterly opposed to the Labour Party. Mr. Molesworth approached a -member of the Labour Party arid said: ‘You can go to Katoomba, take your wife and family and have a_ holiday ias long as you like free of cost, .and we will pay you £3OO in cash towards the cost of your election .if you will vote to depose Mr. Lang from the leadership' of the party.’ ” Shortly after Mr. Lang had made this statement, Mr. Molesworth entered the chamber and shouted out-: “The Premier has made a statement here this afternoon. He is a coward and a liar. ’ ’

The Sergeant-at-Arms hurried towards the intruder, who turned and walked quickly out pf the chamber. Mr Lang ignored the interruption. Mir. Molesworth later issued -a statement, saying that there was neither substance nor truth in Mr. Twang’s cowardly allegation. He says: “If Mr Lang will do the one manly act in his life, that is make a. statement openly, then I will take the necessary steps to prove the untruthfulness of the" allegation.”