Sydney Graft Charges Held Proven by Judge

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 518, 22 November 1928, Page 9

Sydney Graft Charges Held Proven by Judge

SYSTEM OF BRIBERY CULPRITS SORTED OUT i (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) SYDNEY, Wednesday. The report of Mr. Justice Thomson, the Royal Commissioner who investigated transactions in connection with coal contracts let by the late Sydney City Council, was issued to-day. The commissioner found that persons had been mainly responsible tor the introduction of bribery. They were W. Johnston, manager for 15. Byrnes, Ltd., and R. Woof, formerly superintendent of the City Council’s power house. His Honour said these two men had betrayed the trust of their respective employers, and had also icted dishonestly toward some people with whom they had graft transactions. Both were implicated by their own sworn statements and admissions. Silas Y. Maling. formerly deputysuperintendent of the city electricity department, was implicated by the evidence of Johnston and Woof, ami by his admissions to the police inspector who had interviewed him in New Zealand. The commissioner found that each of the three men named had obtained considerable sums of money ov means of graft. Johnston became ill uuring the inquiry and eventually died. His Honour also found that there was very grave suspicion as to the parts played by the former Lori! Mayor, Mr. Mostyn, and ex-Alderman English. Ex-Alderman Holdsworth had impressed his Honour as an unreliable witness whoso word was not worthy of credence.