POLITICAL CORRUPTION CHARGES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 September 1936, Page 7

POLITICAL CORRUPTION CHARGES.

PREMIER INVOLVED. ROYAL COMMISSION PROMISED. (By Telegraph-Press * Assn.-Copyright) Received Thursday, 11.50 p.m. PERTH, Sept. The charges of corruption directed at certain members of the West Australian Ministry by Mr. .E. Hughes, Member for East Perth, are likely to he the subject of a Royal Commission. JVLr. Hughes, speaking in the Assembly, alleged that shareholders of the Labour ’newspaper, Wostralian Worker, had been defrauded of the controlling ownership by an organisation led by the Premier (Mr. J, C. Willcock); that £721 had been taken from union funds to defray the expenses of Mr. Gray, an honorary Minister, who was prosecuted for an election offence, which was followed by a free pardon for Mr. Gray: that r >' liinnlters were promised immunity from prosecution if they contributed to the Government’s expenses at the last election, tor which they contributed £350; and that the Goodwood Race Club, which is privately owned by a Victorian millionaire and run by a legislator, was never prosecuted although committing an offence against the criminal code.

The Deputy-Premier (Air. Troy; stated to-day that the Government intended to take all Ike steps necessary to protect itself. The persons mainly concerned in Mr. Hughes’ attack are the Premier (Air, Willcock), who is al present ill, the former Premier (Mi Collier), also the chairman of the Agricultural Bank (Mr, A. McCullum), who is a former Minister of Works. Mr. Troy added that, no decision regarding the measures to lie taken would In- : ■’ until >.i i- Milo - h r<-.-. . .-i . duty.