CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18171, 17 August 1922, Page 7

CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY.

—♦ SYDNEY BUILDING SCHEME. ALLEGED BRIBERY PLOT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Eecd. 10.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 16. Charles Knight was charged to-day with having incited Hector McWilliam, secretary of the Martin Place Extension Committee, to conspird with him and unknown persons to ,bribe certain alder-. men of the City Council in connection with the extension scheme. McWilliam gave evidence that Knight interviewed him and asked what were the relations of the Martin Place Extension Committee with the City Council. Witness said that he was uncertain whether the council was in favour of the scheme or not. Knight then said: "This is where I can help you. Certain aldermen can be induced to vote in favour of the scheme, but it needs about £1000." Witness promised to get the property owners affected by the scheme to provide the money, and after arranging for a further meeting informed the police. He meli Knight later, when Knight said: " You would be surprised how easy it is to do this thing," but when witness informed him that he did not have the money Knight said the matter was off. For the defence Knight said that ha was " laying for " McWilliam to find out whether the big property owners were putting up money for the scheme, and on the morning of his arrest he was arranging to get in touch with the Lord Mayor to inform him what had transpired. Knight was committed for trial.