PETROL SCANDALS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2743, 11 April 1916, Page 6

PETROL SCANDALS

FURTHER EVIDENCE OIL COMPANY'S BRANCH MANAGER By TelecraDU—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. April 10, 10.10 p.m.) Sydney, April 9. Before the Petrol Commission, Mr. Black (the Sydney manager of the Oil Company), cross-examined, admitted that he did not want tho nationalisation scheme to go through Mr. Hoylo, the Minister of Railways. In the course of examination ho declared that whatever Ministers did nowadays there always seemed to ho a shadow cast upon them, always talk of somebody getting backsheesh, or hoodie. The whole thing was idle talk by interested persons. He had no suspicions against the Minister, and knew of no Minister or member of Parliament receiving anything. Tho money was never coined that could buy Mr. Hohnan. Mr. .Reed, Superintendent of Stores, examined, said that he had suggested that the whole business should be passed into Morgan's hands, because he believed that a smart commercial man, full of knowledge of the oil industry, would be detailed for the negotiations between himself, Mr. Morgan, and the managers of the British Imperial Oil Company. He denied tho various statements covered by the evidence, and the documents produced by these managers, including those referring to the brokerage and payment to Ministers *and_ mombers of Parliament. Witness added: When the question of Morgan's remuneration was discussed, the Minister remarked: "This man will want brokerage." Witness replied: You do not expect that I will work for nothing—that was all. In reply to a question, witness said that he understood that Morgan would remunerate himself.