THE PETROL SCANDAL

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 85, 10 April 1916, Page 7

THE PETROL SCANDAL

"HELLISH IDEAS."

THE COMPANY ASTOUNDED.

SYDNEY, April 8. before the Petrol Commission, Mr ■Wa^staifo ?iiv.o evidence that the 1 per cent, commission meant at least £8000 per annum for Morgan. He expressed the opinion that Heed was an lionest man at heart, but had been very foolish. , A letter written by Mr Black, Sydney manngcr of the company, to Mr Wagstaffc, was read, expressing the opinion that the Labor Party was falling from grace in wanting to rush the -netrol business through und get tlie pickings and thus be secure m the event of a defeat at the elections. Mr "Black described Morgan's ideas as hellish and it was degrading to think that Ministers would stoop so low as to rell thou- country for personal gain. Ho trusted to God that the company s London board would turn the proposal down. • . . _ Tn another letter, informing Air "Wngstaffe that the company's solicitor liad placed the whole facts before Mr Holmnn and Mr Hall, Mr 81.-ick said: "Our solicitor is convinced that Mr Holman and Mr Hall were absolutely ignorant of any move leading the Government into such a position as, the Minister for Education has landed them. Both were greatly cut up. and you can bo. nssuWd that they know nothing ol

the proposition." • A letter from the company's London *J>pnrd, turning (lovyn the proposals, ''We are absolutely astounded thai such proposals should be put forward- by a, responsible Government of'a British colony through a oioker acknowledged by Mr Griffith as his official agent."