MR WADE'S CHARGES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1869, 1 October 1913, Page 7

MR WADE'S CHARGES.

ROYAL COMMISSION TO INQUIRE,

GAUNTLET THROWN DOWN,

By Telegraph—liera Association—Oopyrlchl Sydnoy, September 30. Mr. Wade (Loader of the Opposition) declines a challenge by Mr. Holmatt (the Premior) to restate his charges against Mr. Griffith (Minister for. Public Works) outside tlio House. He says that ho has given the Government a sufficient opening by making the charges on tho floor of the Houbo. "If Mr. Holmon's conscience is clear, let him place my speechos in tho hands of a Royal Commission," says Mr. Wade. "I mil produce evidence to support evory assertion."

A ROYAL COMMISSION. (Rec. September 80, 8.20 p.m.) Sydney. Septembor 30. Mr. Justice Pring has been appointed Royal Commissioner to> _ inquiro into .Mr. Wade's charges against Mr. Griffith (Minister for .Public .Works).

In his attack on Mr. Griffith, Minister of Public Works, in connection witli his motion of censure, Mr. Wade, Leader of the Opposition, charged tho Minister with purchasing land at Medlow under assumed names, tho laud being in such a position that it must have increased in value sooner or later by tho carrying out of certain public works—namely, an overhead bridge over the railway line, and diversion of tho main road. Tho second charge was founded on <i communication made to Mr. Wado by A. J. Riley, a oity draper, that.Mr. Griffith belonged to a land syndicate which had bought tlio lease of premises in George Street occupied by 'Riley,'and the lease of which he had tried to resell to Riloy at a high figure. Mr. Wado alleged that tlio negotiations had occurred when the site of un underground station, connected with tho city railway schemo, was changed to a spot in close proximity to Riley s shop. The gravamen of Mr. Wado's attack under tho next three heads—namely, tho RookwoodBanktown railway, Ulirs Point timber yards, and tho Brookvale-Narrabeen tram —was that Mr. Griffith had deliberately ignored tho necessity for referring these questions to the Public Works Committee, each having cost above .£2(1,00)1. Mr, Wade alleged that in each instanco they had the samo sinister circumstances of certain persons owning land which must bo improved by tlieso undertakings. Tho eame people, under tho sixth item, owned land which was benefited by tho Government's purchase of the suspension bridge and the extension of- tho tram in tho vicinity.