SYDNEY COAL INQUIRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20028, 18 August 1928, Page 11

SYDNEY COAL INQUIRY.

WITNESS WHO PAID MONEY

" SENSITIVE ABOUT GRAFT." SAVINGS IN CITY EMPLOY. (Received August 17, 6.25 p.ni.) SYDNEY. Aug. 17. The Royal Commissioner, Mr. Justice Thomson, who is investigating transactions in conneeton with coal contracts let by the late Sydney City Council, sat again to-day. Richard Woof, a former superintendent of the electrical power-house, continuing his evidence, said that in his 15 years' service with the late Sydney City Council his savings grew from £2500 to £9OOO. He had £IO,OOO invested on mortgage before he camo to Australia from England. He had been in the position of paying " graft " money instead of receiving it. Since the commission had been appointed ex-Alderman Stokes had telephoned to witness asking him to meet him, but on his solicitor's advice he did not do so.

Witness said he desired to give all the assistance he could in clearing matters up, although he had not been guaranteed immunity from prosecution. In answer to the question whether a certain person was a " grafter," Woof said: "We did not mention graft, as we were rather sensitive about it." He said that in one case where the manager of a certain coal company had paid him money the manager had kept a portion of the money for himself.