ALLEGED BRIBERY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 August 1928, Page 7

ALLEGED BRIBERY.

SYDNEY COAL CONTRACTS. EVIDENCE OF MONEY BEING BALD. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyrig'ht.) (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, Aug. 14. Giving evidence to-dav before the commission inquiring into the allegations of corruption in connection with the Sydney Clity Council coal contracts, Nicol Peacock, a coal agent, said that While he was endeavouring in 1921 to place a contract to supply the Sydney (Jity Council with 30,000 tons of coal, he Wiuii tdld he would probably 'be asked to pay .some money over it s nieces fill. Witness had: replied that if he had to he supposed he would. The tender was accepted, and die was told £3OO uas to be paid and that Mailing would be in a certain street to receive, the money. Witness took the £3OO in am envelope to the place mentioned. James Johnston, formerly manager for Byrnes Ltd., who had made the' arrangement, was with him and handed the envelope to Mating, who looked Inside anil then drove off. Peacock said die also paid Woof, the city council’s mechanical superintendent, sums of money from time to time because Woof complained he had had nothing for himself. Witness paid Woof on a tonnage .rate, a halfpenny or a pomu a ton for nine months. Wool told, him he had received £IOO 'from Johnston, but none of at was for bnn-■sel-f. . , ~ fXam-PS Johns torn Haul «uins <m nvonyv had been paid for commission on the road from five canty days in 1921. Lie was after tho ron tract on wml-t ot the Cenltnad: Ooait Shipping Agency when B rams ton told him that Alderman l'arrell could get it through lor £2OO. gave the money to Farrell and secured the contract. . , Witness had previously seen Mating, who told hum die would secure the, contract if the money were paid. He told A tad,in" he would give £ISOO commission on ft tonnage basis. Subsequently £1 was paid Woof leaving £3OO lor 'Muling, who was advised of tdiis liv telephone. , ... . Tiic hearing had been adjourned.