GRAFT CHARGES

Southland Times, Issue 20498, 29 May 1928, Page 7

GRAFT CHARGES

SYDNEY SCANDAL ROYAL COMMISSION RESUMES CROSS-EXAMINATION OF MALING (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Sydney, May 28. The Royal Commission inquiry into civic affairs resumed to-day. Mr Silas Y. Maling, under cross-examina-tion by counsel for certain aidermen, said that Inspector Mackay of the New South Wales Criminal Investigation Department showed him statements made by Buckle, Albert and Miss Gordon at the police office, Wellington, but did not tell witness that he had placed himself within reach of the law in connection with the Babcock-Wilcox contract. What Mackay said was that witness had committed a breach of the Stamp Duties Act. Witness denied that Mackay said anything about a warrant or that he could take witness back to Sydney in connection with the stamp duties matter. Witness admitted that he kept Mackay in ignorance of the fact that' he had received £2OOO out of the Babcock-Wilcox contract, and did not alter this statement until he returned to Sydney and consulted his solicitor. He also admitted telling Mackay that he paid £BOOO to Aiderman Green, and that Albert had got the remainder. He also asked Mackay if the latter believed Albert would handle the transaction without getting something out of it. In reply to a further question witness said that while at Rotorua he received a letter from Albert which advised witness to get out of the country, to leave on a foreign ship and not on any account to return to Sydney. The letter from Maling while in New Zealand to his solicitor was then read in which he stated: “As I surmised a police officer has been sent to see me about certain matters and I have now decided to return to my job as I still believe I will be compelled to return on a trumped-up charge.” The letter proceeds to state that he was informed that Albert was making highly damaging statements about him, and suggested that the solicitor should write *to Albert in order to compel him to desist.— Australian Press Association.