SUGAR FRAUDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9535, 6 July 1909, Page 5

SUGAR FRAUDS.

JAPANESE DEPUTIES SENTENCED. JReceived July 850 a.m. "TOKIO, July 4. As a iequel.to the sugar frauds in Japan, twenty-three Deputies have been sentenced to'terms of imprisonment ranging from three to ten months. The Deputies were accused of accepting bribes from the Dia Nippon Sugar Company, in order.to secure a monopoly for the company's production. On October 27 th, 1907, thirtyfour shareholders held a meeting, and adopted the following resolutions, in addition to one to the effect that the company should be compelled to pay & dividend at the rate of 20 per cent, for the second half of 1907:—(1) "That the directs should consult with the vamus authorities c&fiC&rnfcd M ifequlfied bv Circumstances for th 3 adoptioh Oi A gugai* monopoly by the dov&fiV 4 merit/' (2) "That in the event of ! the Sugar Monopoly Bill being passed by the two Houses of the Diet, the shareholders of the company should subscribe five yen on each share as remuneration for the services of the directors." ,In accordance with these resolutions, Mr Isomura, a director of the company, interviewed Mr Ogino SToshizo, leader of a Constitutionalist group in the Diet, jwho promised that his party would support the Sugar Duty Reimbursement "Bill if the company would pay a suitable sum for the service. Mr Isomara asked what he required for these services, and was told he would be satisfied with 150,000 yen (£15,000). This sum was considered excessive by the director, who declined the offer of services. Subsequently, Mr Isomura paid a certain amount (understood to be £12,000) to Mr Ogino, who accepted the money. Other Deputies were also paid sums varying from £3OO upwards to secure their support for the Bill. The revelations had completely destroyed the influ ence in the House of the Constitutional Party, which had previously been in the majority.