COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Southland Times, Issue 21560, 25 November 1931, Page 7

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

FALSE PRETENCES CHARGE. (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) Sydney, November 24. The false pretences case has concluded and Supple was committed for trial. The Magistrate declared there was no evidence whatever incriminating two members of the Cabinet, Messrs McGirr and Ely.

A charge of false pretences against George Supple, aged 59, a prominent Labourite, created unusual interest owing to the fact that the names of two of Mr Lang’s Ministers, Mr McGirr and Mr Ely, were brought into the proceedings at the Police Court. The evidence was that Supple sought £l5O from David Cragg as a reward for obtaining a license for an animal boiling downs works in the residential suburb of Banks!own. A detective stated that while secreted under a table.in Gragg’s office he heard Supple ask for £l5O, declaring he could induce Mr McGirr, then Minister of Health, to grant the license. Later Mr Ely became Minister of Health and his name was drawn into the negotiations. Both Ministers emphatically denied authorizing Supple to make any such offer; on the contrary they were entirely opposed to the noxious trade being carried on at Bankstown, despite which the Board of Health approved of Gragg’s application.