SECRET COMMISSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 167, 6 July 1908, Page 4

SECRET COMMISSIONS.

A '< iOVEBXALIiXX Jilhh. One ot the first Uoveniinent measures to be circulated this session is lhi; Secret Commissions JJill. which lias been introduced by the Prime ..Minister (Sir ilusi'pii W'arH). The object of the measure is to render illegal the practice of agents in secretly accepting payment and other valuable consideration from third persons in respect ol the business of their principals. 'lhere is every reason to believe (says an ollicial memorandum attached to l-iio .llill) that this practice is very widely ■spread, and that it exercises a pernicious inlluence upon the commercial morality of tile community. It has already been found necessary to pass legislation for this purpose in England, Victoria, and the Commonwealth of Australia. Tliu are: 111 England, the. Prevention of Corruption Act, lllUli; in Victoria, the Secret Commissions Prohibition Act, J!)l)o; and in the Commonwealth, the Secret Commissions Act, I!KK, These Acts differ considerably from each other, and the present Kill selects what are regarded as the best features of each. It creates the following offences: — (I) The giving uf .secret bribes or other considerations to agents by third persons. (-1 The receiving of secret bribes or other considerations by agents from third persons. (3) The concealment by an agent of his. pecuniary interest in a coal rai l made by him on behalf of his principal. ' (1) Tlk; giving tu an by a third jjci'auii ot a. falsi; or impurt'ecl receipt, invoice, or other document, with in tout to dei-cive the pi'bieipal. (.j) Hie giving by ait agent lu hi*

principal o.t' any such ducumrnt. L itpractice to lie stopped (continues I In- nu'iiionniduiu) aniline;-} m> many ditfrrcnl forms and i* ->o easily disgu'wd Unit if I In; .AH, is tu In; ellf'Hive, .it juu*t bo drawn jn the, most comprehensive terms. As «u drawn it it 4 quit'' possibl * \ h;il jl. include* eeviaiji practices which in I hcnisclvci are not open to objection. II U not practicable, however. to lore;ind eM'inpl: these ca.-es: and it is l>]'uvi'lcil accordingly, by vuy of piard (.is has aU) been done in Kngtand ami Vl-.toria), iliat no prosccution can l-c instituteil without the, consent ot the

.M lorucv-tieiieral. This ]irovision will rircclmiily jirevenl the. Act, from nseil 4«xeept. in cases which coine within the spirit 01. it as well as wilhin iU letter.