SYDNEY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19166, 24 November 1927, Page 5

SYDNEY COUNCIL.

CHARGES OF BLACKMAIL. (BY CiBLt—PBIBS ASSOCIATIOK—COPIRIGHT.) (AUSTKAMAM AND K.Z- CABL* ASSOCIATION.) SYDNEY, November 23. In the Assembly' during the 'debate on the Civic Commission Bill, Mr Foster (Nationalist) made allegations that blackmail and.toll were levied by City Council officials. He said that about four years. ago ho received a message that a certain official of the City Council wished to see him in regard to something wrongly done in connexion with one of his buildings. The official told him that there was something scandalously wrong with the building, Mr Foster said: "Then we must see your chief about it," but the official replied, "It is unnecessary- to go so high." Together they went into the variations in the building from the schedule laid down, and he indicated that the variations all erred on the side of additional strength Mr Foster therf asked the official how he could justify the word "scandalous," and he replied that he could arrange the matter, as Alderman Bram.ston could square it. The case was not reported, nor did the official ever intend to report it, and it was sufficient evidence that blackmail or toll was exacted by officials of the Council.

Then, amid scenes of indescribable uproar in which all coherence vanished, the third reading was gagged through, and the Bill was sent to tho Legislative Council. COUNCIL'S CASE TO BE HEARD. (AUSTRALIA* AND S\Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) SYDNEY, November 23. The Legislative Council granted a request contained in a petition from the City Council that counsel on their behalf should present a case against the abolition of the Council at the Bar of the House.