MR GRIFFITH AS A WITNESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16668, 13 April 1916, Page 5

MR GRIFFITH AS A WITNESS.

A GENERAL AND A COMPLETE DENIAL. SYDNEY, April 12. (Received April 12, at 9.55 p.m.) Mr Griffith (Minister of Education), examined, said' he understood the charge was that through his agents he asked that a secret commission should be paid to himself OT his •colleagues by the company through whom they -were doing business. That charge was supported by strong evidence, both oral and written. He was absolutely unaware of the brokerage, and asked for it to be shown in any document to go before the Cabinet. The whole gravamen of the charge was that there was to be a secret document, to be kept secret in Australia, while satisfying the company's auditors in England. Had he known there was no charge of secrecy, but merely a scheme of open brokerage to be paid on contract, he would not have stood down from his administrative duties and abandoned his work in Parliament. Giving details of the scheme, Mr Griffith said he chose the best man he could get to make inquiries. He told Mr Reed not to bother him with details, and also if a scheme was formulated there would be a possibility of a charge of corruption against the Government by some people, he expected. Mt Reed introduced Mr Morgan, and after interviews he appointed Mr Morgan as agent, because he was impressed with him as a man knowing all about the oil business. Nothing -was said about payment to Mr Morgan, because he was representing the vendors. Mr Griffith declared that he was never a party to getting commission in connection with the petrol proposal, nor any other in the wide world, nor was any other Minister. Hβ had absolute confidence in Mr Reed, who for 25 years had been a departmental officer. Mr Morgan had no power to bind the Government. There was absolutely no agreement to pay him brokerage. He was merely authorised to' act as agent, not as broker. He did not for a moment contemplate that Mr Morgan should ask for commission from the company. The Government -would have paid for his services. Mr Reed never mentioned the question of brokerage or commission. BeyonH casual reports made by Mr Reed on progress of the negotiations, he ((Mr Griffith) was not aware of the real position of affairs until the interview in which Mr Holman explained the charges.