AUSTRALIAN,NEWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2575, 24 September 1915, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN,NEWS

■ FEDERAL ARMY CONTRACTS THE KIDMAN CASE. (Reo. September 23, 10.15 p.m.) By Telegraph—Press Assoclation-OopyrifW Sydney, Soptember 23. ■ During the hearing of the charges against Arthur Kidman, Major F. W. Page, Major A. 6. O'Donnell, and Sergeant B. Leslie, ff conspiring amongst themselves 'and with others' to defraud tlia Commonwealth of large sums by procuring ilto payment of excessive prices: for goods for the armed forces, Colonel : Wallack, the New South Wales Commandant, in the course of lengthy evidence regarding the military contracts,'said that Major Page's military career was without fault. Ho ljnow ihim to bo an honourable and straightforward man. Kidman's application. for increases in the contract prices was not" a solitary one. He (witness) had . personally dealt with two cases. If he saw an injustice being done ho granted the inoreases. He wanted to give everybody a fair deal.

SPINAL MENINGITIS. PRESENT' CONDITION OF THE. EPIDEMIC. Melbourne, September 23. / Returns of the number of cases of spinal meningitis among the troops in the .varioiis States 'show that in Victoria there were sixty-five, in South Australia thirty : four,in New South' Wales thirty, in Queensland' fourteen, in Tasmania one, and in West Australia none. . -' - ;. • . The disease is reported to have been stamped out in South Australia. NATIONAL SERVICE. ENDORSED BY THE ASSOCIATED MANUFACTURERS. Melbourne, September 23, The annual meeting of the Associated Chambers of Manufacturers of Australia endorsed the principle of national service, and also advocated that no German goods should be bought for ten rears after the war. TENDER FOR 50,000 SHELLS. Brisbane, September 23. The Railway' Commissioner' has submitted . a tender for the supply of 50,000 shells,'. and more, if necessary. .7 NO POLITICAL TRUCE PROBABLE., MR: HOLMAN'S GRIEVANCE, v Sydney, September 23. In the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Holman, the Premier, announced' - that owing to the Liberal Party!s failure to restrain candidates from contesting Government seats falling vacant, and forcing the Government to contest elections, . a political truce in the future is improbable. ■ . ' : CONTROL OF QUEENSLAND MEAT WORKS. STATE 'ACQUISITION ACT. Brisbane, September 23. A deputation of '■■; bankers protested against clauses in the new Meat Works Act, and wished for an assurance of full and complete security aver properties on which they lent money. Mr. J. M. Hunter, Minister' of Lands, replied that the meat companies could not defy, any Government Act that, was essentially a war measure. Though there was a clause dealing with 1 other industries,, it was not likely to bo used unless it stood in the way. . tin the Queensland State Assembly, a fortnight ago, Mr. Ryan introduced a Bill for the regulation and acquisition of meat and other works by tlio Government.]"; - ■

CLEAN SWEEP DEMANDED, GERMANS IX THE CIVIL SERVICE. . (Rec.' September . 23, 9.35 p.m.) Sydney, September 23. The Government was subjected to continuous heckling in the Assembly over the employment of Germaas in the Public Service. Both inside and out-, side the House there is a strong demand for a clean', sweep. INEBRIATES IN UNIFORM. "A REPROACH TO THE COM-. MUNITY:" (Rec. September 23, 9.35 p.m.) Sydney, September 23. Mr.- Black (State Secretary) has issued an order ,io the police—owing to the number of soldiers who have been seen drunk in 1 the . streets - ■ and hotels—that the Licensing, Act must ho enforced with the greatest severity at Liverpool and Sydney;. He adds: "The number of drunken soldiers who have been, seen in the streets is a positive reproach; to the community." , RED CRffSS IN EQYPT. DEFICIENCIES EXAGGERATED'. . (Rec. September 23, 9.35 p.m.) Sydney, September 23. In a letter which was read to' members of tho Red Cross Society, Mr. Adrian Knox, who was sent to superintend the work in Egypt, warns the public against possiblo exaggeration of its deficiencies. "The branch has done, and is doing, good work. The sick and wounded, generally speaking, are well cared for. Even if there are deficiencies in some respects 'I feel confident that these are due to circumstances, not to slackness or neglect on the part of the staff, wlo are saddled with 'an enormous amount of work."

ITEMS IN BRIEF. LOSS ON STATE TIMBER YARDS. ' Sydney, September 23. The net loss on the Government timber yards for the year was £25,145. ■ NEW SOUTH "WALES BUDGET. (Rec. September 23, 9.35 p.m.) Sydney, September 23. The State Premier, Mr. W. A. Hol!mau, has postponed the New SoutJr Wales Budget till after the Premiere' Conference', which lias been further postponed till September 27. GAS STRIKE SETTLED. • (Roc. September 23, 9.35 p.m.) Sydney, September 23. The gas strikers have work jn a basis'that the discharged trimmer will be reinstated and the case left for settlement in the hands of the Labour Department.