ACCEPTING BRIBES

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11785, 22 March 1924, Page 6

ACCEPTING BRIBES

NEWFOUNDLAND’S PREMIER ROYAL COMMISSIONER SAYS CHARGES PROVED. SENSATIONAL REPORT. Bv Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 21, 10.30 P-in.) ST. JOHN’S (Newfoundland), March 21. The icport of the Royal Commissioner, Mr T. Hollis Walker, K.C., of London, who spent ten weeks here investigating tl-io alleged wrongdoings of the Squires Government, finds definitely and absolutely against Sir Richard Squires. The Commissioner hold as proved that Squires accepted more than 40,000 dollars from the Dominion Iron and Steel Company at a tame when that concern was conducting negotiations with the Government, and he concludes that suoh payments would only be made because the company hoped to influence Squires in favour of their interests. With respect to the oharge that amounts paid to the Department of the Liquor Controller were not ..paid to the Treasury, but to private individuals, Air Walker reports that this allegation is fully proved, and he states that [-Squires received for his own purposes over 20,000 dollars of the public funds at various times.

Sir Richard Squires has been Premier of Newfoundland since 1919, and previously was Colonial Secretary for two years. _He undertook a piogramme of industrial development of the interior of Newfoundland by large hydro-electric and paper-mill undertakings, and the reorganisation of the country’s railway, steamship, express and dry dock services. He submit ted the policy to the electors in May of last year, and was sustained by a two to one majority. He was knighted in 1921.