ALLEGED BRIBERY.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17839, 11 October 1929, Page 7

ALLEGED BRIBERY.

SCANDAL IN QUEENSLAND. ROYAL COMMISSION. (Australian Press Association.) BRISBANE, Oct. 10. Considerable discussion has. taken place in the Queensland Legislative Assembly about the actions of prominent people interested in the Mungana oil leases and the Mount Isa silver and lead field. It has been alleged that pressure was brought to bear upon the former Labour Ministry to build a railway to Mount Isa and to purchase the Mungana leases for £40,000, in consideration of gifts of shares. The Minister of Railways, Mr G. Morgan, stated in the Assembly that Mr Randolph Bedford, Labour member for Warrego, had, "out of the goodness of his heart,” given shares to certain friends, including Mr E. G. Theodore, former Premier of the State, now deputy leader of the Federal Labour Party, to Mr William McCormack, also a former Premier of Queensland, and to Mr A. J. Jones, exMinisler of Mines. It is further alleged that the gift of shares was worth thousands of pounds. une Premier, Mr A. E. Moore, has agreed to appoint a Royal Commission to investigate the scandals, but the inquiry will not be commenced until Mr McCormack returns from England.