SYDNEY COAL CONTRACTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 4 August 1928, Page 7

SYDNEY COAL CONTRACTS

INQUIRY COMMENCED. United Press Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright •■J, ." •■■'.. SYDNEY, 3rd Augiist. The civic ! coal contracts inquiry, has begun -before Mr Justice-Thomson, Royal Commissioner. ' 'i • ' Mr Shand,K.C.,.outlined the proposed evidence. He: said testimony, would be produced to', show .-that >.were made to various persons to influence the placing of contracts for the- supply' of coal. ■ One firm,: Byrnes, "Ltd.; supplied ccal for severalJye.ars, and counsel.alleged that council officers received -moneys which were untraced; One alderman, since deceased, was alleged to have suggested raising the price of coal-in time of stress, the difference to be divided between certain aldermen. Mr Shand declared he would prove • payments of £I2OO to:Woof, ■ -former v. power-house superintendent, £2OO to Maling, £SOO to ex-Alderman Stokes and Holdsworth and £2OO to. ex-Aldermen'Farrell and ; Bramston. ' . . Inspector Mackay gave , evidence -of conversations with Maling, who had admitted that £2OO reached him. He said hi did not use it, but gave it to. a man who was.always borrowing ni onev - . The case was adjourned till 13th August. ...