THE GRIFFITHS CHARGES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10, 12 September 1913, Page 6

THE GRIFFITHS CHARGES.

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] (Received 9.55 a.m.) Sydney, September 12.

In connection with the censure motion, Mr Wade charged Mr Griffiths with purchasing land at Medlow under assumed names, the land being in such a position that it must be increased in value sooner or later by certain public works, namely' an overhead bridge over the railway line and the diversion of the main road. A second charge was founded on a communication to Mr Wade by A, J. Riley, a city draper, that Mr Griffiths belonged to a . .. ... . •

land syndicate which bought a lease of premises in George Street occupied by Riley and then tried to re-sell the lease to Riley at high figures. Mr Wade alleged that the negotiations occurred when the sito of an underground station connected with the city railway scheme was changed to a spot in close proximity to Riley's shop. The graveness of Mr Wade's attack was under the next three heads, namely, Rookwood Bank Town Railway, Uhr's Point Timber Yards, and the Brook-vaie-Narraben tram. Mr Griffiths, he said, deliberately ignored the necessity for referring these public works to a committee, each having cost above £20,000. Mr'Wade alleged that in each instance they had the same sinister .circumstances, of. certain persons owning land which must be improved by these undertakings. The same people, under the sixth item. owned land which benefited by the Government's purchase of a suspension bridge and the extension of the tram in the vicinity,

Mr Griffiths, replying, denied the two first charges categorically. As to the others he referred anyone to the finding of the Royal Commission, which found in effect that while Mr Henley, under cover of the privilege of the House, charged him with corruption, he had not the courage to repoat it on oath.