SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 220, 15 August 1928, Page 7

SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL.

COAL COMMISSION EVIDENCE.

CHARGES OF GRAFT.

SYDNEY, Aug. 14.

Giving evidence beforo the Coal Commission, Nicol Peacock, a coal agent, stated that while endeavouring m 1921 to place a contract to supply tho Sydney City Council with 30,000 tons of coal ho w r as told he would probably be asked to pay some money over if successful.

Witness replied that if he had to he supposed ho would. The tender was accepted and he was told that £3OO was to bo paid, and that Mr S. Y. Maling, formerly deputy manager of the electricity department of the City Council, would be in a certain street to receive tho money. Witness took £3OO in an envelope to the place mentioned. James Johnston, formerly manager for Byrnes Limited, had made the arrangement. Johnston was with him and lie handed the envelope to Maling, who looked inside and then drove off.

Peacock said that he also paid Woof, the City Council’s mechanical superintendent, sums of money from time to time, because Woof complained that he had had nothing for himself. Witness paid Woof a tonnage rate of a halfpenny or a penny a ton for nine months. Woof told him that he had received £IOO from Johnston, but not a penny of it was for himself. James Johnston stated that sums of money had been paid for commission on coal from tlie early days in 1921. He was after a contra ot on behalf of the Central Coni Shipping Agency. When he had been told that Aiderman Farrell could get it through for £2OO he gave the money to Farrell, and secured the contract. Witness had previously seen Maling, who told him that he would get the contract if the money was paid. He told Maling he would give £ISOO commission on a tonnage basis. Subsequently £I2OO was paid to Woof, leaving £3OO for Maling, who was advised of the fact by telephone. The hearing was adjourned.