SECRET COMMISSIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7853, 15 July 1911, Page 5

SECRET COMMISSIONS

PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS REVELATIONS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. TWO OFFICIALS DISMISSED. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received July 14, 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 1-1. Tho report of the Royal Commissioner appointed to investigate the system : of contract work in connection with ! public works contracts has been published. It shows that abundant necessity existed for the investigation. It discloses that practices of a suspicious character have been in vogue in connection with the handling of Government orders. Although the commissioner found that it was impossible to secure proof that bribes were given, ho found abundant evidence that certain firms had boon given preference. Ho reported regretfully that tho evidence justified suspicions that Mr Cook, firstclass assistant architect, and Mr Raw, assistant engineer, had not conducted their work with clean hands. The evidence clearly showed that they favoured certain firms in giving orders. A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. MANY BIG FIRMS IMPLICATEDMr A. Griffith, State Minister of Works, said that the report was such that ho was removing the two officers mentioned from tho public service. He added that the commission had revealed a widespread system of secret commissions in connection with public contracts, in which nearly all the big firms j in Sydney were concerned. The extent I to which this had been practised had reduced it almost to a custom. Only j a few of tho more honourable firms had , declined to participate in the practice.