BRIBES ALLEGED

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1930, Page 9

BRIBES ALLEGED

SENSATION IN AUSTRALIA

CHARGE AGAINST COMMITTEE

ITS BUSINESS SUSPENDED INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE By Telogra.ph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Rec. 9.30 p.m. Canberra, May 8. Startling allegations of bribery were disclosed by the Prime Minister, Mr. J. H. Scullin, in the House of Representatives to-day. He stated Mr. Roland Green, M.P., who was a member of the Public Works Committee, had informed him every member of that committee except Me. Green himself had accepted a bribe from an unnamed man who desired a decision in favour of A class broadcasting stations in a claim for compensation from the Government following the taking-over of these stations.

Mr. Scullin announced that the allegations would be investigated without delay. Details of the alleged attempts to bribe were given by Mr. Scullin, who said investigation by the committee into the broadcasting stations’ claim had been temporarily suspended. The chairman of the committee, Mr. Coleman, M.P., who had denied having received a bribe of £5OO, had asked Mr. Green whether he could identify the strange man who approached him on the verandah of Parliament House with an offer of £2OO, said Mr. Scullin. Mr. Green had said he could. That man, according to Mr. Green, had said “Mr. Coleman has earned his £500,” and asked him not to be a darned fool: “Why stand in your own light?” Mr. Green declared, said Mr. Scullin, he had made no reply, he was simply astounded. Later Mr. Green brought up the matter in the committee, upon which every member had denied having been approached.