CIVIL SERVANTS BRIBED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1180, 15 July 1911, Page 5

CIVIL SERVANTS BRIBED.

NEW SOUTH WALES INQUIRY. SECRET PICKINGS ON GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. WIDESPREAD CUSTOM. By Teleerapli—Fress Association— Copyriclit (Rec. July 11, 10.0 p.m.) Sydney, July 14. The report of tho Royal Commission appointed to investigate'tho system of contract work in connection with tho Stato Public AVorks Department contracts shows that abundant necessity existed for the investigation. The report discloses that practices of a suspicious character have been in voguo in connection with tho handling of Government orders, and, although tho Commissioner found it impossible to secure proof that bribes had been given, he found abundant evidence that certain firms had been given preference. The Commissioner stated that ■ he reported regretfully that the evidence justified suspicions that Mr. A. S. Cook, first-class assistant architect, au<l Mr. Raw, assistant engineer, had not conducted, their work with a clean hand. The evidence clearly showed that they had favoured certain, firms in giving orders. [ Mr. Griffith, Minister for Works, said the report was such that he was removing the two officers mentioned from tho Public Service. Ho added that the Commission had revealed a widespread system of secret commissions in connection with public contracts, in which nearly all big firms in Sydney were concerned. The extent to which it was practised reduced it almost to a custom. Only a few of the more honourable firms declined to participate.