ALLEGATIONS OG GRAFT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 4 December 1920, Page 5

ALLEGATIONS OG GRAFT

■ 1 * I ** N.S. WALES WHEAT SCANDAL. (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian et N.Z. Gable Asuuciatiou) "SYDNEY, Dec. 3. The inquiry by Air Justice Bring into allegations of graft in connection with the George,son wheat scandal has I opened. j Mr Bailey, a Labour member of the I Legislative Assembly, gave evidence i that he hail a converseuon witli lalbot early in September. The latter told him he had contributed £SOO to the Labour Party funds. He later received a letter from Talbot in which the latter stated that he bad met Johnston (who is also a member of the Assembly), who asked him what about, •■.hutting the matter up. Talbot said he would like it closed on account or Georgeson’s wife. Johnston asked for £IOOO, but agreed to take £SOO. He later met .Johnston, who said be and Dooley, Chief Secretary, had come’ to try to get money from him. Dooley was not present, lie gave Johnston .£4OO and posted Him the other hundred. Talbot, gave evidence that he gave the money for Johnston’s personal election expenses, and the '‘shutting up”'mentioned in the letter referred to abuse hv the Labour Tarty, on the hustings, of Georgeson and himself. Messrs Storey,. Mutch, Gann, and Dooley gave evidence, denying that the party had received any money in connection with the wheat inquiry. Johnston, giving evidence at the inquiry, said that Talbot assisted him financially in the election campaigns, lie acknowledged receiving £SOO from Talbot for his personal election expenses, but denied that there was anyeompact or arrangements as suggested in regard to other members of the partv. Mr Gann, Minister of Works, gave evidence that Mrs Georgeson saw him and complained regarding the harsh terms which Mr Storey was using respecting her husband over the wheat enquiry. Site alleged that an undeistanding had been reached between Johnston and Dooley that £SOO should be given for election expenses on the understanding that Georgeson should not be further proceeded against. She also stated that an understanding had been given through a go-between that Stotey .would agree to this arrangement. If Georgeson were 4 forced into court she intended to bring the matter before the Commission or wodld get a Nationalist member to move a motion of censure on the. Government to bring the matter Mr Gann said ho understood the was paid out of the Georgeson-1 albot estate. Airs, Georgeson gave evidence that she had not given money to anybody to Ivav© the Wheat Commission stopped, nor had anybody made overture© to her. When her husband became ill alf his papers were handed to his isolieitor. . In reply to a question, Did she toil Mr. Oann the papers showed £SOO had been by Talbot to a member of the Labour Party? She replied: “I had no papers. This money was given after my husband became ill.’’ added that Talbot told her he gave £SOO. She answered that ©he would not be a party to giving money in that, way. Sh© supposed Talbot, gave th© money because ho wanted to make a donation. "Georgeson's solicitor gave evidence that not a farthing during _ the last three years hf/id been paid improperly out of Georgeson’s account.