ALLEGED CORRUPTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 11

ALLEGED CORRUPTION.

LANG ANSWERS CRITICS.

TIN-HARE INTERESTS.

DENIAL OF CONNECTION,

COUNTER-CHARGE MADE.

SECRET BRIBERY FUND. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. 'Received February 8.55 p.m. 5 SYDNEY, Feb. 26. In the Legislative Assembly to-day the Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, replied to critics concerning his official connection with tin-hare interests. Mr. Lang declared that he did not know and had never seen or spoken to " Judge" Swindell, and if that gentleman had visited the Premier's Department it was without his knowledge. A section of the press, the executives of which, were interested in tin-hare shares, were responsible for the propaganda against the Government, because licences for tin-hare courses had not been granted to their particular ventures. The Premier described tliem as "bucketshop" newspaper executives who, with certain members of the Opposition, he said, haunted such places at Tattersali's Club. Hb went on to say that there was a fund in existence in Sydney to which the Australian Jockey Club and other proprietary interests subscribed in order to have tin-hare racing banned. It was a secret fund for the purpose of bribing members of the Labour Party, but to the eternal credit of those members the fund was still lying idle. If a Royal Commission were granted, would it inquire into the origin of that fund, or might it not with advantage inquire into the origin of the fund built up by the banks and insurance companies at the last election to fight the Labour Party ? Mr. Lang said he saw no reason for an inquiry. Perhaps the members of the Opposition were prepared to make definite charges of corruption instead of relying upon interested press propaganda. REPLY PREVENTED. MR. STEVENS' CHALLENGE. . INVITES ISSUE OF WRIT.

(Received February '26. 11.45 p.m.) SYDNEY. Feb. %

Mr. Stevens was prevented from replying to the Premier's allegations to day, so he has published a statement, challenging Mr. Lang to issue a writ against him in regard to his observations on corruption. He promises not to plead Parliamentary privilege in open Court.

When Mr. Stevens was about to answer Mr. Lang's denials in the Assembly the closure was applied. Other members of the Opposition also were prevented from speaking by the same means.

In the course of an attack on Mr. Lang in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly or Wednesday, Mr. B. S. Stevens, deputy-Leader of the Opposition, remarked that while the Government found little time to deal with the main problems of the day—namely, the financial drift, the vast unemployment, the industrial turmoil and poverty—it was very much concerned about restoring licences to tinhare companies, which were likely to earn prodigious profits and which smelt to heaven of political trickery and corruption. The public were entitled to know why the Premier had suddenly taken an intimate interest in this tin-hare business. It was common knowledge that the organiser of greyhound racing, "Judge" Swindell, an American importation, had easy access to the Premier's department. A section of the press, said Mr. Stevens, had alleged that £20,000 of the share capital of two tin-hare companies had already been donated to the Labour Party's funds and that further favours were being bestowed as the result of the intervention of " Judge" Swindell, who seemed to have & remarkable influence upon the Premier. Tho "whole* thing reeked of suspicion. Why did not the Premier see fit to defend his honour and the honour of his Government—this Government which prated so much about the poor and needy ? Mr. Stevens challenged Mr. Lang to sue the newspapers which were responsible for these charges of corruption.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

GOVERNMENT DEFEATS.

COUNCIL AND ARBITRATION BILL. SYDNEY, Feb. 26. The Arbitration Bill was the cause of further defeats of tho Government in the Upper House to-day, amendments being carried with the assistance of the Federal Labour group. A motion to bring the police within the scope of the b-11 was carried, notwithstanding a warning that a situation such as that which brought about the Melbourne police strike might develop. INSURANCE BILL. ALTERATIONS BY SENATE. DEALING WITH DEPOSITS. CANBERRA. Feb. 26. <. Several important amendments to the Insurance Bill, which requires persons or companies carrying on insurance business to lodge deposits with the Commonwealth Bank, wero agreed to when the measure was further considered to-day by the Senate.

The principal amendment provides that deposits already held by States may remain with State authorities until the Federal Treasurer requires them.