Second Labour Man Alleges Corruption

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 349, 9 May 1928, Page 9

Second Labour Man Alleges Corruption

AUSTRALIAN PQI *Tir.s MORE TALK OF BRIBERY (United P.A. —By Telegraph Copyright) Reed. 9.20 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. Air. George Cann, a former Chief Secretary of the Lang Government, who was defeated at the last election, makes an additional charge of corruption. Relating to the manner in which a safe Federal Labour seat was alleged to have been provided for Mr. E. G. Theodore, Mr. Cann says Mr. P. Coleman, M.P., was approached to resign the Reid seat for Mr. Theodore on a promise of monetary consideration. Mr. Coleman consulted Mr. Cann, who advised him to decline, saying, “You are not a good Labour man if you acquiesce.” Mr. Coleman accepted the advice. A Sydney cablegram of Monday read as follows: Mr. W. Lambert, M.H.R., declares that while Mr. E. G. Theodore, M.H.R., was looking for a safe Labout seat IS months ago, he (Lambert; was offered £B,OOO as a bribe by a former Labour supporter to abdicate the West Sydney seat to Mr. Theodore, but he declined, though the money was very tempting. Mr. Theodore was afterwards provided with the Dailey seat, Mr. W. Mahoney making way for Mr. Theodore. Mr. Lambert adds: “Mow I find that the same crowd that offered the £B,OOO has jockeyed me out of the West Sydney Labour selection, and 1 am a beaten man.” Mr. Theodore, interviewed last night declared that Mr. Lambert's statement was too grotesque to warrant serious consideration.