ALLEGED BRIBERY

Northern Advocate, 22 May 1928, Page 6

ALLEGED BRIBERY

FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD MALING’S PRESENT OF £2OOO. TROUBLE OVER A TENDER. (Australian Press Association.) (Received 9 a. in.) SYDNEY, This Day. At the Royal Commission, inquiring into civic affairs, Air S. Y. Maling

continued his evidence. He said that when the matter of payment to aldermen was arranged with Arnot, the latter insisted on making witness a present of £2OOO for himself, Witness reluctantly agreed to accept. The whole matter was being discussed with Arnpt and witness asked Arnot what amount he proposed to pay the aldermen. Arnot said: £".">00 with £IOOO for Alderman Holdsworth.’ ’ The tender then went before the council which approved it and the contract was given to Messrs Babcock and Wilcox, Ltd. ARNOT PERPLEXED.

Maling continued that he heard no more about the money business for some time. Then Arnot came to his office and said he could not get the money out and ho was afraid to get it out for fear it should be detected. Arnot asked witness if he knew of any way out of the difficulty and deponent promised to think it over for a few days. ALBERT PARTICIPATES. Witness accidentally met Albert in the street and told him Arnot could not get money out from England. Albert then said that Buckle had a much bigger account than his and would be better able to handle the transaction. Later Albert told witness that Buckle was prepared to le l the money go through his account and that he (Albert) wanted £IOO for his services in making the arrangements with Buckle. This was agreed to and brought the total amount to £10,(500. The next thing Maling heard was when Albert came to his office and told him the money had arrived. Witness then described how he received various amounts through Albert and Miss Gordon, which he handed over to Alderman Green. HOLDSWORTH UNPOPULAR. Cross-examined, Maling said he told Arnot not to give Holdsworth any money as, if he did, the others would not get their shares. He further stated that when he left Australia he would have returned had he received reasonable treatment from the Civic Commissioners, Before ho left he had asked for leave to consult a Harley Street specialist, but this was refused, so he then w'ent to New Zealand, without leave, on the advice of his doctor.

At this stage Mr Justice Harvey said he would have to investigate the allegations in connection with the International Combustion Company’s tender, as it seemed to run right through the whole matter. CABLES BUSY. Arnot was recalled and cross-exam-ined on a number of cablegrams which passed between Arnot and the London office of Messrs Babcock and Wileox. Ltd. since the commission has been sitting. One from the London offiee staged that Sir James Kennall had instructed payment of £IO,OOO in Sydney, but there was nothing in the London office to show to whom the payment -was made. MALING WANTS NEW JOB. Arnot, in reply to a question, said he saw Maling just before the latter went to New Zealand and Maling told him that he had decided to resign from the City Council position and asked witnesST to get him another po-sition-where he could earn, not £3OOO but £6OOO yearly. Witness added that he could not recollect Maling having told him, on previous occasions, that he desired to give up his position with the council. The inquiry was adjourned till Monday next. MORE DEVELOPMENTS. WIFE SEEKING DIVORCE. LABOUR PARTY NONCOMMITTAL. (Australian Press Association.) (Received 3.30 p.m.) ■SYDNEY, May 21. Mrs Olive Maling is petitioning for divorce from Silas Maling, whose City Council electricity department activities a Royal Commission is enquiring into, A copy of the petition has also been served upon Mrs Pittock who acted as an intermediary between Arnot and Maling. A meeting of the executive of the Australian Labour Party decided not to take action in connection with Lambert's charges until the conclusion of the Royal Commission’s investigations.