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ALLEGED 'GRAFT.'
SYDNEY COUNCIL COMMISSION.
SYDNEY, Thursday.
Further evidence was given to-day be
fore the royal commission concerning the
allegations of graft in, relation, to a. con
tract for carting poles for the electricity
department of the Sydney City Council;
It had been alleged that one of the ten
derers had been offered £1,000 by another
cartage contractor if he would 8gree not
to submit a tender, and that one of the
Aldermen of the city council wanted £o0
and a motor car on election day -for hi»
vote when the tenders were being con
sidered. '
Giving evidence to-day, George Todd,
master carrier, said that he was -present
when Mr. A. 'Couling and Mr. W. R.
Somner, master carriers, discussed the
tenders for this contract. Somner did not
offer Couling' £1,000 not to tender. Iu
the course of conversation Somner said
to Couling, 'Can't we come to an arrange
ment,'* and Couling- said 'So,' adding
that he was going on with the tender.
Somner then said, 'Will, you let me see
your tender,' and Couling answered,' 'No,
not on your life.' Then Couling said,
'What is it worth?' Witness *aid that
he intervened, saying that he would sot
stop and listen to that talk, and Somner
and he left the office together.
Mr. Street (for the commission)— What
did you understand when Couling said,
'What is it worth?'— What I call blood
money.. ' .
Meaning that Couling would pull out
of the tender if he were paid a certain
sum of moneyJ-rYeg.
Was anything said about any sum of
money?— Not in my presence.
Was the sum of £1,000 mentioned?—
Never. -, - - .
The enquiry was adjourned.
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