CORRESPONDENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 243, 20 February 1911, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

SECRET COMMISSIONS. To the Editor. P : V-ln your leaderette in Friday-is issv in the important "Secret Commissions Act" passed last session, in quoting the provisions of the Act you unfortunately omit what is perhaps the most important word—the word corruptly. "Every person," section 3 of the Act runs, "is guilty of an offence who corruptly gives to any agent any gift, etc." This Act is modelled on the English Act, and the meaning of the wojd "corruptly" has been discussed there. It is obviously of great importance. I am not "corruptly" giving a reward when I give a tip to a waiter or steward in order to induce him to attend to me or as a reward for having looked after me well on board. Nor does a postman act corruptly who takes a Christmas box. But a clerk does act corruptly who, for instance, refuses to admit a commercial traveller to see his principal, or says the principal is "engaged," unless he fe tipped by the traveller to admit him.— I am, etc., JOHN DOE.