BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16705, 24 July 1928, Page 7

BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS

CASE AGAINST MALING " SYDNEY. CIVIC "GRAFT" Elee. Ttil.Copyrighl— United Press Assn-l SYDNEY, July 23. The hearing of the case in which Silas Young Maling is charged with corruptly receiving £10,600 in connection with a power-house contract between the Babcock and Wilcox Co. and the City Council, hag opened.:. Mr. Layton, town clerk, described the receipt of the tenders for the work, and Maling's recommendation of the Babcock and Wilcox tender, but witness was not sure whether, it was the lowest amount. The ■ council's policy was to encourage Australian enterprise as far as possible. 'The electricity committee's approval of Maling's recommendation was unanimous. The committee included three aldermen opposed to,. the Labor Party. '..;.'■' - . .

Mr. Moate,- clerk to the commit* 1 tee, deposed that the records would | not show if the decision were unanimous. .He had beard suggestions of graft made in the council. The manager for Babcock and Wil- p cox produced credentials, and '? then* | asked to be .excused from,, answering questions. ' •? | Legal argument followed", but the \ witness eventually proceeded with his evidence. He said he had seen. Malt. ■: ing several times'regarding the tender. In March, 1926, Maling told g witness he had a gang ibehind him who 11 wanted £SOOO, and he wanted £2500 | before Babcock and Wilcox could get J the contract. Witness urged that as his linn's tender was the lowest, and -; they had works in Australia,, they 1 should hot pay anything, •■ Later he 1 suggested that £SOOO would be enough. I Maling replied that that was no I He had to have £7500. • In April, 1 Maling told, witness .that ; tfc& International Combustion Co. had put . up £15,000 to"get the contract.' The | money was in the hands of a third party, but those behind him (Maling)vvould give Babcock and Wilcox the | contract if they got £IO,OOO. Witness replied that there was nor-margin in | the tender to pay that amount | Maling told him that £7500 to £BOOO I would go to the gang. The hearing was adjourned; -