TIN HARE SCANDAL

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1932, Page 6

TIN HARE SCANDAL

FURTHER EVIDENCE TAKEN. MYSTERIOUS CHEQUE FOR £SOOO. (Australian Press Association) (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 19. At the mechanical hare inquiry ) further attempts were made by Justice Halse Rogers, Royal Commissioner, to trace what became of the cheque for £SOOO, freely mentioned in the evi-. dence last week. Henry Melmgron, sharebroker, was recalled, and admitted having written a lettetr to Judge F. Swindell, who I was prominently identified with tin hare racing, telling him of the sale of 2500 shares in the greyhound Coursing Club wherefore he received a cheque from Swindell for £SOOO. He also admitted that the contents of the letter was untrile. The Royal Commissioner. Then this letter can be characterised as a lying letter? . • . ' ’ < 5 Witness: Yes. • The Royal Commissioner: Were you ; in the habit of writing lying letters to cover up any transactions ? Witness: No. . Jack Munro, chairman of the Australian Coursing Club, told a story of the efforts made some time ago to legalise night mechanical hare coursing, and' how a manu with a supposed social pull, named Mr Barry, came on the scene with' the object, of inducing certain influential members of the Legislative Council to push legislation through that Chamber. Barry wanted five thousand shares in the event, of hi s social influence being successful. Such a contract was eventually arranged, and-the shares, which originally were worthless, jumped from 1/3 to 10/- almost the moment legislation was passed. Barry also proposed that the sum of £ISOO a year should be spent in advertising in the Labour Daily" which was bound to boost the tin hares. Joseph Galbraith, a former secretary of the -Greyhound Coursing Association, recalled that he was examined about an honorarium of £IOOO and other sums paid to Keigheiy, w ‘9 knew Mr Lamb. Swindell was present at all meetings. , No vouchers were kept and witness knew nothing of the circumstances whereimder the payments were made to Keigheiy, and ,9 did not know that he did anything of consequence on behalf of the Company. The case was adjourned.