THE PETROL SCANDAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1916, Page 5

THE PETROL SCANDAL.

MR. GRIFFITH'S EVIDENOBi i By Cable—Press Association—Copyr%l* «eoei?ed April 12, 9.85 p.m. < Sydney, April U. Before the Petrol Commission, Mr. Griffith, Minister of Education, 'when examined, said that he understood the> charge was that through his agent* ha had asked that a secret commission should b e paid to himself or his ooU leagues by the company through whom they were doing business, and that the charge was supported by strong evidence, both oral and written. He wa* absolutely unaware that the brokerage asked for was to be shown in any docu> ment to go before Cabinet. The whole charge was that there was to be a secret document, to b e kept secret in Australia, while satisfying the auditors in England. Had he known that there was uq charge of secrecy, but merely a acnenej ' ' of open brokerage to be paid on tte contract, he would not hare stood down from his administrative duties and abandoned his work in (Parliament, Giving details of the scheme, he Mid he chose the best man he could get to) make inquiries. He toW Reed not to bother him with details; also, that it the scheme was formulated, there would bo a possibility of a charge of corrupt ■'= people. Reed introduced Morgan, and, ' * after interviews, he appointed Morgan as agent, because he was impressed with .' him as a man knowing at) about tit* '■'■ ■ oil business. Nothing was said about '"i payment to Morgan', because 'he waif ■'. representing the Vendors. Mr. Griffith declared that {he bad ' never been a patty to getting a eon-: ; ' mission in connection with the petrol ■ proposal, nor any other in the wWn ' world, nor was any other Minister. Be, '. '.l had absolute confidence in Mr. Seed* ',', who for 25 years had been a depart- . "' !l mental officer. Morgan bad no poweß . to bind the Government, and there wn • ;l absolutely no agreement to pay him " f ' brokerage, but one merely authorising ; him to act a* agent and not as a broker. :' He did not for a moment contemplate; ; that Morgan would have asked cWnuW sio»{ from the company, as the Government would have paid for Ills services. ■. Reed had never mentioned the question - •-. ' of brokerage or commission, beyond the casual reports, made by Reed during th> ■■'; progress of negotiations. . •' Mr. Griffith said he was unaware of, -i the real position of affairs until the '•'■' interview wherein Mr. Bolman explained ' the charges.