ALLEGED BRIBERY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16311, 11 December 1918, Page 3

ALLEGED BRIBERY.

OF AUSTRALIAN POLITICIANS

By Telegraph—-Press Assn.- Copyright (Received Dec. 11, 10.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Dec. 11. The report of the Royal Commission, which inquired into the purchase of the Shaw wireless station and two steamers by tho Government, states that tho commission is of opinion that Senator Long received £2400 from the father of Shaw as consideration for political influence used in connection with the purchase. After Cabinet had considered the report, Mr. Watt announced that there was no evidence to connect Mr. Jensen with the receipt of money in connection with the purchase of the wireless station, but Cabinet decided it was undesirable that he should remain a member of the Government, and was taking steps to arrange for his retirement. In respect to Senator Long, the Cabinet is consulting counsel whether the evidence justifies an action in tho law courts.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. The report of the commission shows that the Shaw wireless works were purchased for £55,000, though some of the valuations obtained placed the value considerably below this figure. The price was raised owing to the including of much obsolete and other material useless to the navy. The commission finds that Mr. Jensen disregarded the advice of Rear-Admiral Clarkson and the engineering expert, and took the advice of an inexperienced subordinate officer; that the valuation paid no consideration to the utility of the plant to the department; that certain facts were not placed before Cabinet; that the works were purchased at a price much in excess of the value. Regarding the purchase of steamers for £4500 and £7500 respectively after the purchase it was found that they were quite unsuitable for the purposes intended and they had to be used for other purposes. Tenders invited for the purchase of these vessels only brought offers 6f £IOOO and £3oo. Mr. Jensen, in a statement in the House, contended that the findings were not in accordance with the evidence and that he had been attacked by the commission for carrying out the policy of the Government and thereby refusing to be tied down by the Naval Board. The Ministry had asked for his resignation, but they would not get it. He feared nobody; he had done nothing wrong. Senator Long, who, according to tho report, admitted receiving £1290 from the father of Shaw _as a gratuity for their friendship, obtained permission to make a statement in the Senate later.