COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 80, 25 July 1914, Page 6

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

[By Eieotbio Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] (Received 9.50 a.m.) Sydney, July 25.

The Boorabl. commission has opened. The evidence of the agents as to the sale of the property to the Government for closer settlement purposes, was to the eifecfc that when it appeared likely that the sale would not go through, Messrs . Osborne and Jonbx were approached the idea being that in their positions as a member and an e«.member of Parliament they woulu have better access in pushing the sale forward than the land agents, who were forbidden to 'interview the Lands Department, and a certain commission was promised them. Messrs Osborne and Jones were examined, and they gave details of the agreement and ai their interviews with the Ministers and others. Mr Jones, in reply to tin Commissioner's questions as to whether? it was his influence that bought tho estate, said: It may be that or it may be the access to the Ministers that we had. Mr Osborne, in rdjfly to a question, said he did not think they had any more influence or mill as far as the Government was conce-neJ than any other reputable citizen. Mr Osborne admitted it was an indiscreet thing to give his vote in Parliament on a matter where he was pecuniarily interested, but he was not experienced.