TIN HARE CHARGES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 497, 20 July 1932, Page 2

TIN HARE CHARGES

INQUIRY BY COMMISSION SYDNEY, Tuesday. When the Royal Commission continued its inquiry into the charges arising from the reintroduction of mechanical hare racing was resumed to-day, Jack Munro, a director of the Australian Coursing Club, explained how his and another company joined forces, pooling shares and placing themselves unreservedly in the hands of F. Swindell. Counsel for Swindell sought to assure the Royal Commissioner that no bribery or corruption of Crown witnesses was ever contemplated. The Royal Commissioner; “The whole thing reeks with trickery and dishonesty.” Munro added that the Premier’s secretary, McCauley, was mentioned in connection with the tin hare license for Wollongong. A man named Cowdroy threatened to make disclosures. He said he “would tell the world” if he did not get that license. He eventually did get it. Munro said that 12,000 fully paid shares in the Australian Coursing Club were issued in the name of Hutton, who did not get the scrip. Swindell later said, “I do not want them in my name.” Mr. Monaghan, who is assisting the Commissioner: “You know Swindell was going to use these shares for bribery?” Munro: “My opinion is that he wanted to make sure of a holding in my company—in fact, in every company conducting coursing.” John Bateman, a director of the Greyhound Coursing Association, related a conversation in which Swindell told witness that he must have three seats on his hoard in order to get night betting restored for dogracing. He emphasised “J.T.,” presumably meaning the ex-Premier, Mr 1 . J. T. Lang, and insisted on that course. Swindell duly brought his three nominees along and they accepted. Mr. Monaghan: “Were you pleased!” Witness: “We reckoned we were beaten by Swindell.” Mr. Monaghan: “After that the voice of the board was the voice of Swindell?” Witness: ’‘Certainly.” Mr. Monaghan: “You understood him to say that he was working for Mr. Lang?” Witness: “Yes, although I did not believe it.” The hearing was adjourned.