SUPPOSED BRIBE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20593, 17 December 1928, Page 16

SUPPOSED BRIBE.

£2OO IN AN ENVELOPE. ALSO A CASE OF PIPES. LEFT FOR CABINET MINISTER. (From Ouh Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, December 0. The announcement on Tuesday that an attempt had been made to bribe , the Chief Secretary of New South Wales (Mr A, Bruntnell) caused something of n sensation in political circles, and although, the object; was not achieved it has left the public with an uncomfortable feeling and a suspicion that Ministers of the Crown may have been actually bribed on some other occasions. The Government has taken a serious view, of the matter, and in order to clear up' the position had decided to prosecute even though the evidence, may appear to be somewhat slender. But the'question that the public will.want settled is whether the offender in this case had reason to 'believe that Ministers could be bribed!

The facts of the case are rather extraordinary. It seems that one day last week an application was made by two bus proprietors to' the Chief Secretary's Department to ply their busts on two rival - routes. The Minister, after inspecting the routes, had made up his mind not to grant the new licenses, but to leave the matter to the Transport Board, about to be created by the Government. A member of the Nationalist Party (Major Jarvis), who represents the electorate in whidi the rival bus proprietors desire to obtain the license to ply their buses, called on Mr Bruntnell at the latter’s office, and put the case on behalf of one of the applicants, who is also a constituent of his. Major Jarvis placed on the Minister’s table a small parcel, which, he was under the impression, contained pipes. Mr Bruntnell declined to accept the parcel which, however, was left on the table. He called to bis private secretary to take away the parcel, and to return it to the person who was responsible for it. However, he noticed an envelope attached to it, and opening it ho found that the envelope contained two £IOO notes. Mr Bruntnell immediately brought the matter' before the Cabinet, arid the Premier at once invited Major Jarvis to explain his association with the incident. Major Jarvis impressed upon Ministers that he was riot acquainted with, any attempt to bribe Mr Bruntnell, The Crown Solicitor was then communicated with' and a decision to prosecute was made. The bus proprietor has since admitted' that ho caused the money to be left for Mr Bruntnell, but he denies that it was intended as a bribe, but ■it was merely a contribution to the party funds. A summons has since been issued.