BRIBE TO ALDERMAN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 November 1924, Page 5

BRIBE TO ALDERMAN.

CHARGE OF CORRUPTION

•BY CABLE PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT SYDNEY, Nov. 12. ' , A c 'VValker was examined beiore the Cropley Com mission in reference to the alleged gift of £25 in connection with the erection of a street petrol pump. Walker said that at the request of an agent for the property concerned, which was in his ward he assisted in getting the matter before the council.

The day after the council passed a motion giving its -consent, the pump agent came and thanked him and put a cheque into hi s hand. Walker asked: “What’s that for? The agent replied: “For the trouble you’ve taken Walker said he never suegested, asked fpr or inferred that he U 1^ d anything. The agent said: lhats all right; you saved us a lot of worry and trouble. Accept this as a personal present from me.” ' ... Walker added in evidence:-. “I said if you put it that way I see no harm in doing iso. I neither looked upon it as a bribe nor suggested or inferred it in any shape or form. I regarded the cheque as similar to'the subscriptions political parties receive and motor-ears placed at their disposal on election days.” Alderman Walker was next examined with reference to the allegations that Oro-pley was to get £14,000 for a lease if £IOOO were paid in a certain quarter. He declared that Cropley pestered him to get the matter finalised. It was he who moved that Cropley be given no more than £12,000. He denied that he had ever suggested that Cropley or anyone else should get £14,000 if he were paid £IOOO. It was a deliberate falsehood and a damnable lie to say so.