Political Scandal.

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 49, 10 July 1906, Page 4

Political Scandal.

The Irrepressible John Norton. A Challenge Accepted. SYDNEY, July S. In the New South Wales Legislative Assembly to-day Mr. Crick gave notice of a motion for to-morrow, condemning the Speaker for having him removed the previous evening. Mr. Holman followed with a personal explanation, in which he replied to the charges Mr. Norton made against him on Tuesday night, that he had accepted bribes in connection with the Liquor Bill. These charges, he said, included that of having been convicted as a felon in connection with the failure of a Labor paper 11 years ago. He explained that he occupied an honorary position on the Board of the paper, which was unfortunate and ill-managed from the start. When it failedjhe and three others were technically convicted of conspiring to defraud, but the conviction was quashed. His own savings went in the smash, and from ‘beginning to end he never got a farthing out of the venture. Mr. Norton’s other charges were the writing of lead-

ing articles for the Cootamundra papers against Mr. Norton, tho accepting of bribes from brewers, and corruption, all of which he warmly denied, and invited the fullest inquiry. He concluded with a dramatic acceptance of Mr. Norton’s challenge to resign and contest the Cootamundra seat. Mr. Norton at the time of the challenge handed his resignation to another member, and both resignations were handed to the Speaker, and their seats were subsequently declared vacant. Mr. Holman was cheered as he left the House, but Mr. Norton’s departure was watched in silence.