That Gift of Pipes and Two £l00 Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 543, 21 December 1928, Page 9

That Gift of Pipes and Two £loo Notes

SYDNEY BRIBERY CHARGE BUS-OWNER IN THE DOCK 1 ( United P.A. — By Telegraph Copyright^ \ Reed. 11.43 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. The hearing has begun of the charge of bribery against Michael Fitsgibbons, an omnibus proprietor. He is charged with having attempted la bribe the Chief Secretary of NewSouth Wales, Mr. A. Bruntnell. by an offer of £2OO. to recommend an extra bus route between the suburbs of Gampsie and the Central railway station. The case aroused a first-class politj. cal sensation. Chief Secretary Bruntnell related that Major Jarvie, a fellow Parliamen* tarian, brought him a gift of pipes, «o which was attached an envelope in which were two £IOO notes. Fitz* gibbons was an applicant for a bus route which required Mr. official sanction, for which Fitzgib. bons had a rival named McNichol. Mr. Bruntnell refused the gifts, an<| interviewed Major Jarvie, who said he did not know that £2OO accom* panied the pipes. LOOKS FOOLISH Detective Morgan, Who Interviewed Jarvie last Saturday, said to Jarvie; I hear an ugly rumour about your getting £3OO out of this transaction. Jarvie replied: That is not correct, I am an honourable man. I know J look foolish in the public eye. He added that, he did not know therd was £2OO in the envelope with thef pipes. A statement was also obtained from; Fitzgibbons, who declared that thei pipes were a present for Mr. Brum,', nell as a mark of appreciation of the; time and attention he had given to the bus route application; but the £2OO was intended for t4e National Party’s funds. Milton Jarvie gave evidence that he was with Fitzgibbons when the piper; were bought. He saw nothing improper in a gift of pipes to a Minister from one of his constituents, but he had no idea that two £IOO notes went with the pipes. The case was adjourned.