FEDERAL MILITARY CONTRACTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2473, 28 May 1915, Page 7

FEDERAL MILITARY CONTRACTS

MR. KIDMAN EXPLAINS (Reo. May 27, 9.15 p.m.) (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Sydney, May 27. 0 In reference to yesterday's cabled report that Arthur Kidman had been itidieted in connected with alleged irregularities in military contracts, -Kidman, in a statement published in tho Press, ' protests vehemently against tho Dofenco Department permitting the publication, moro especially as tho matter g is sub judice. The papers, he says, cannot givo his side ol' the question. 0 Ho points out that it was only after n his failuro for months to obtain pay- ; mont for moneys duo to him, nnd alter ho had issued a- writ for nearly £9000, nnd lmd notilied tho Department about j tho issue of the writs lor about £5000 more, that tho proceedings in question had been instituted. He ' 8 "The public will bo astounded when 'j they learn of the treatment he has re- „ ceived, in spite of matters in question. Ho is still far tho largest contractor in foodstuffs for the military forces." 'j In connection with tho allegations a concerning the Defence Department's ° contracts, High Court indictments wero j reported yesterday to have been issued j. bv the Federal Attorney-General (Mr. I 0 llug'lies) against Arthur Kidman, of Sydney, alleging the forgery and utterlj_ ing of certain documents and tenders 10 for military supplies. Against the same . defendant, together with Major Arthur George O Dounel laud Sergeant Leslie, g of Sydney, it was alleged that there was s . a conspiracy to cheat and defraud the j Government of large sums of money in connection with the supply of goods lor the Defence Forces of the Coinmonj wealth, and by procuring that the Commonwealth should pay excessive prices j. for such goods. The indictments' allege j four conspiracy offences, and against Arthur Kidman two charges of forgery J., and uttering between August, 1914, and tho current mouth.