THE SYDNEY INQUIRY

Wairarapa Age, 1 June 1928, Page 5

THE SYDNEY INQUIRY

EX-ALDERMAN GREEN GIVES EVIDENCE. A STOBY OF HIDDEN MONEY BRIBERY DENIED United Press Association.—By Electric! Telegraph—Copyright. (Received Thursday, 8.30 p.m). SYDNEY, May 31. At the Boyal Commission inquiry into civic affairs, replying to counsel for Maling, Inspector MacKay said, that when' he went to New Zealand he had no power to arrest Maling and bring him back in custody. His instructions were to communicate to the Crown Solicitor developments arising out of statements made by Maling and his own inquiries from Maling about the transaction.

Frank Green, ex-Aiderman of the City Council, gave evidence that his wife had means of her own, but never invested until 1926, when she purchased an equity in some property, paying £lOOO for it. She kept her money at. home and witness did not know she had it until 1926, when she told him she had £l5OO in notes planted under a flooring board, where it had been for years. In reply to questions, witness said that when his wife told him about having the money hidden, he expressed no curiosity as to where it came from and although his wife never mentioned it to him before, lh.”e was no reason why she should •li>ie hidden it. In reply to a furttier question witness said that during the absence of Mr. Forbes Mac Kay, manager of the City Council Electricity Department, nearly three millions pounds’ worth of tenders were agreed to. Green continued that as far as he could recollect the Labour Party in the Council was unanimously in favour of accepting the Babcock-Wilcox tender. He denied that prior to his vote being given in the Council he had been approached by Maling or that he ever put an improper proposal before him. Witness was quite definite and positive about this.—(PA.).