ALLEGED BRIBERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1916, Page 5

ALLEGED BRIBERY.

THE N.S.W. SENSATION. FURTHER PARTICULARS. 13y Cable.—Press Association—Copyright Received March 29, 9.35 p.m. Sydney, March 29. is anticipated that the Royal Commission to inquire into the petrol monopoly allegation will get to work early (next week. Its scope will be to inquire into the negotiations and arrangements oi: the proposals on behalf of the Government of New South Wales, and the acquisition of works and business of the British Imperial Oil Company, and the proposals made by Henry A. Morgan as to the price therefor; also, if the demands or requests made by Morgan were prompted, instigated, authorised, or endorsed by any. Minister of the Crown o: other person, according to the statement made by Mr. Holman in the Assembly. Reed, the Government Superintendent of Stores at Sydney, who was engaged in the negotiations for the proposed establishment of a State monopoly of petrol, and Morgan, who was retained at Reed's recommendation as jidvieing expert, approached the Sydpev and Melbourne managers o~ the' British Imperial Oil Company, and in an interview arranged what is alleged. Morgan explained, in fixing the company's net price, that one per cent, was to be added as Morgan's brokerage, and another three per cent, on arrival at destination. This was not explained, 'hut apparently ii: was to be used as bribery for carrying the scheme through the House, and was cither to go to the Minister with whose Department the scheme was connected, or to the Minister and liis colleagues and such members as could be induced to support WagstafF. Tho manager, who, 'Mr. Holman said, was at the .moment convinced that Reed and Morgan were acting with the connivance of the Government and the knowledge of the Government, cabled these proposals to his London principals, who repudiated the whole transaction, and warned those who were a party to it that the seal of confidence whereunder the transaction had been conducted must bo lifted, and after further inquiries Wagstaff, in ail interview with Mr. Holman placed the facts before him. Mr. Holman added that the appointment of a Royal Commission was entirely at the request and upon the initiative of Mr. Griffith. IPending an inquiry Mr. Griffith, at his own request, had been relieved of all administrative work. Mr. Griffith declared that he was unaware that there was anything the least i bit. wrong. His first impulse was tosuggest criminal proceedings, but the steps now being taken seemed wiser. Reecived March 29, 11.25 p.m. Sydney, March 29. Mr. Holman administers the Education Department during Mr. Griffith's tern-1 porary absence. j j