"GRAFT" ALLEGATIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2405, 10 March 1915, Page 6

"GRAFT" ALLEGATIONS

AUSTRALIAN WHEAT ACT

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUIRE

By Teleemuli—Frees Association—Copyright

(Kec. March 9, .8.45 p.m.) Sydney, Maroh 9. Before the Royal Commission on the Wheat Acquisition Act, a witness stated that rumours were current that money had been raised in connection with the passage of the Wheat Acquisition Bill, and tnat it had gone to tne AttorneyGeneral (Mr. Hall). Another deposed that he had interviewed Mr. Hall and members of Parliament, but on no occasion was ther# any suggestion of a consideration being made.

Other evidence showed that one of the chief movers in the direction of getting the wheat contracts cancelled wouia have been involved to the extent of £15,000 by their non-cancellation, and' that money was subscribed with a view to securing the exclusive service of a solicitor who was supposedly in close touch with members oi Parliament, to see the matter through, lie agreement as first drawn up provided for-the payment to the solicitor of £500, but thifl was subsequently reduced to £1000. The inquiry'is proceeding. ' • . . s Sydney, March 9.' One witness understood that the pay-, ments to the solicitor were purely for professional services. There was no suggestion of bribery or corruption. Ona stated he had seen cheques signed for £300. and £160 respectively,' payable to a solicitor, and the receipt for them set out that the balance due was £240."

TRAGEDY IN PAPUA

WHITE SETTLER MURDERED B"tf

NATIVES. „ Sydney, March 9. Natives murdered Harry Ballot, a; wliit« settler, near. Port Moresby, in lapua. They watched him leave his house, and then clubbed their victim, iliey tied the body to a pole and hid the grave. Eight bovs and one girl'are implicated. ' CABLE NEWS IN BRIEF NEW SOTJTH WALE S ! CABINET. r Sydney, March. 9. Mr. Carmichael has definitely declined to resubmit himself for nomination; BUSH FIRES IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, March 9. Yesterday's tush tires affected an area of 350 square miles.' Many homes were: destroyed and other property was damaged. A cool vuiberly has improved conditions. (Reo. March 9, 8.45 p.m.) , Sydney, March 9. , Destructive bush fires have'ravaged the Bankstown, Newcastle, and Blue Mountain districts. Numbers of houses have been destroyed, and. there have.' been considerable losses. to crops and stock.

COMMONWEALTH BANK PROFITS,

Melbourne, March 9. The Commonwealth Bank shows . a profit for the half-year ending December of £13,428.

AFTERNOON SHIFT IN NEW

SOUTH WALES MINES. Sydney, March 9.' , 'K conference of oolliery proprietore and officials of the Employees' Federation are discussing the atternoon shift question. There is every indication of ! a settlement being reached. CHINA AND JAPAN. London, March 8. It is reported that China las agreed to a nineteen years' extension of the South Manchurian railway agreementNEW GOLDFIELD OF SURPASSING RICHNESS. . . (Rec. March 9, 5.30 p.m.) London, March 9. Mr. Raymond Schumacher, of Johannesburg, declares that the veldt in the vicinity of New Modderfontein is the most wonderful goidmining district in, the'world. The ground, he says, has' scarcely been scratched.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" services. Mr. Schumacher is chairman of directors ,of the New Modderfontein Mine (situated some 14 miles out of Johannesburg), which ' has a capital of £1,200,000 in 300,000 shares of £4. each.

CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP. CRec. March 10, '1.40 a.ni.) " Sydney, March 9. The following are the results of the cycling championships :■ —

. Half-mile.—Burtenshaw (N.S.W.). Time, linin. 8 4-osec. Ten Miles.—Aubrey Taylor (N.S.W.), Time. 25min. 22 2-sseo. ■

JAPANESE WOOL ORDERS. IN . SYDNEY. ' (Rec. ITarch 9, ', 7 p.m.) Sydney, March 9. Japan has placed orders in Sydney for £3,000,000 worth of wool-tops, practically the total mill output for 1915 ■ and also for 5000 hales of greasy, wool.