BRIBE RECEIVED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20337, 20 February 1928, Page 15

BRIBE RECEIVED.

BY UNION OFFICIAL A STARTLING STORY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 9. Of all the queer stories of intrigue told from time to time by Australian Labour officials the most startling was that of Mr T. Hoare when he told the Stockton Borehole miners that he had received amounts totalling £597 for keeping the mine working. Tho company denies all knowledge of the payments and whence tho money come is a mystery. That Mr Hoare has a keen sense of the dramatic was instanced not only by his sensational announcement, but by the methods he adopted to ensure that the allegations would receive the widest publicity. Late on Saturday afternoon last representatives of the Sydney press in Newcastle, as well as the local nows papers, received mysterious telephone messages to the effect that Mr Hoare would like to meet them at the Hamilton railway station at 6 o’clock in the morning on the following Monday. To inquiries as to the purpose of the appointment at such an unusual hour, no information could be secured beyond the fact that if the press desired sensational copy the tryst had better be kept. The pressmen duly kept the appointment, and, with Mr Hoare, took the train to Cockle Creek. On alighting Mr Hoare walked across to the Stockton Borehole Colliery, and just as the whistle w T as blowing for work he informed tho miners that he wished to address them in the local hall. The surprise occasioned by Mr Hoare’s unexpected appearance was considerably increased when he informed the men that he would reimburse them for the lost shift. The pit was accordingly shut down for tho day, and the men trooped to the hall. Addressing the meeting, Mr Hoare said that about 18 months ago he had been approached by an individual in one of the Newcastle streets. The man had winked at him and had said: “Look, Bondy, I want to speak to yon about Stockton Borehole.” The president said that his first feeling was one of righteous indignation, and he felt like kicking the man. On reflection, however, he thought that there might he a good opportunity of finding out what was being done. He afterwards mot the man by appointment, ami he was offered Id a ton on the output of Stockton Borehole colliery, the idea being that he should keep it working. The man later offered him per ton, and finally struck a bargain at jd a ton. Sinc e then the following amounts had been paid to him: —£li?, £146, £125, £B4, and £lls. Most of the business had been transacted in the bar of an hotel, the money being paid over in a room upstairs. Mr Hoare explained that he had not had to raise a hand to keep the mine working, and that the money he had been paid would be distributed among the wives and families of the miners at Stockton Borehole. “ I want the world to know of this matter,” he said, “ and I nope that the disclosure will result in a reorganisation of the trade union movement.”

Mr Hoare had told the man that he did not like taking the money, as he felt that he was doing something wrong. The man replied ; “ Don’t ho foolish. What you ar e getting is a mere fleabite compared to what others are being paid.” Mr Hoare said that the man had mentioned certain names, and just as he was about to disclose this information, a voice at the back of the hall shouted: “ Not here, Bondy; it’s too risky.” And the information was withheld.

Referring to th e work which he had done to earn the alleged bribes, Mr Hoare said that only once in the past 18 months had the, Stockton Borehole miners approached him. There had been no desire to cease work, and he had been able to deceive the man that his'efforts had been responsible for th e absence of any strike. The money he had received had been paid over to a clerk in the employment of the Miners’ Federation and had been held in trust by the clerk’s father.

In a subsequent statement. Mr Hoare exonerated the chief executive officers of the federation from any suggestion that they also had received bribes. No doubt, he said, others who had received money were feeling very anxious at the present time, and wished that their conscience was as clear as his. The federation lost no time in summoning Mr Hoare to Sydney to give further particulars in regard to his allegations. Members will insist on the matter being cleared up, and will ask Mr Hoare for proofs of his statements.