AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2588, 9 October 1915, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

TELEPHONE DETECTIVE THE KIDMAN CASE. AMAZING EVIDENCE. By Telograph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. Octobcr 8, 10.10 p.m.) . Sydney October 8. Giving ovidenco in the Kidman case (alleged exploitation in army contracts), Edward Graham, a telephone; observation officer,' gave. evidonco of a system by which- wires under observation were tapped. Since the war began lines had been, under observation in connection with . the' trading with the enemy cases and other matters. Amongst others,' he was instructed to ' observe the Kidman lines. Ho then detailed conversations between voices which he recognised as Kidman's and Major O'Donell's. An allegedly Kidman voico informed the" speaker at the other end that he was "shoving in a couple of dummy tenders, iu your name," with the query: "What is your name?" "Walter D. Howe.". ; Tho reply, came, "That will ;.bo all right." ' : "Yes, my name is Walter D. Howe— mindj Howe." .The suggestion was added: "You'll have, to feed me up a bit."' ' The reply to this-was: "I'll see to that," with certain suggestions-how to act 'if any questions wore asked, and the assurance, that there was nothing to be afraid of, and that everything would be- all right. Witness detailed another conversation between the same voices, when Edman was advised that his prices were not in for the meat contract. He was asked:''"Cannot you let us_ have them now, as we are fixing things up, and put; the..official form in afterwards?" ' The conversation ended ■_ with, tho words: "Tbe prices are being sent,"., and the advice, ''Get the form in at once." ' '■ REINFORCEMENTS DOUBLED FEDERAL .DRAFTS FOR OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER. \ Melbourne, October 8. ; ' During October and..November: the Commonwealth. ha« promised to', provide 20,000 men, or double tho usual number 'of 'Reinforcements. The enlistments since the outbreak of . the war total' nearly 150,000. ■ REQUEST FROM THE AR.MY ' COUNCIL. ' (Rec. October 8, 11.45 p.m.) Melbourne, .October 8. . The British Army Council has asked for the Commonwealth Reinforcements to be increased to 9000 per. month'. The present quota is 6500. Up to the end of September'B3,3s7 men had been, dispatched to the front, and' 63,357 were in training.■ ' DRUNKEN SOLDIERS IN THE ■ STREETS. " Sydney, October 8. There is a great out-cry against "the number of drunken soldiers, seen.in the : : city streets. There is a strong demand that the Government should take steps to curtail -the' opportunities for' obtain-ing-liquor.' ! , The; Chief Secretary (Mrr Black) replies that the evil is primarily not; any daxiiiy in the .administration of: the liquor laws, but the misguided : hospi-, tality of citizens towards soldiers. . CLERICAL TRAINING 'FOR ■ RETURNED MEN. Sydney, October 8. ; " The Australasian Corporation of Public Accountants ; has : arranged a' scheme .'to provide free; clerical training for returned soldiers. DEATH OF COLONEL.WALLACK. : Melbourne, October 8. ;.. Colonel Wallack, State. Commandant, is dead. • '•' - / . [Colonel E. T. Wallack. was appointed to bo State Commandant in Victoria a few".--months;'ago,his .predecessor (Colonel Legge) having been sent to succeed General Bridges. - He was pre-, viously District Commandant' in New South Wales; ahd ,A.D.C. :to the Gov-ernor-General. ' He served in the/South African War, was' Acting Commandant iii Tasmania 1904-5, Commandant in South Australia 1905-6,. and afterwards Adjutant-General and a member of the Commonwealth Military BoanL.He was. born in 1857.] . i'-r. * MOTION OF CENSURE. MR, HOLMAN AND THE LABOUR COUNCIL. Sydney,, October 8. The Labour Council has , debated a motion of censure on the Holman Government'for; failing to introduce ihdiis- , trial, legislation. • •".■ ■ ' - TOO MANY LOOPHOLES. COLLAPSE OF LIQUOR CONTROL ACT. Melbourne, Ootober 8. : The police Teport that tho Liquor Restriction Act is an/absolute failure. It ■affords many loopholes for; evading the law.- ■ v ITEMS IN BRIEF. Vf OPIUM SEIZED.' •.. Sydney,-October 8. ' Customs: officers- seized 175. tins .of opium, found under tho coal bunkers of : the steamer Batsford,' .from New Zealand ports, via ' Melbourne. • CONTROL OF ENEMY SUBJECTS.. • - • Sydney,-October 8. In the Legislative Council, Mr. Carruthers moved;'»; sej-ies ,'of • resolutions to establish' more stringent', supervision of enemy-subjects.; J . CENSUS. OF WHEAT 'AND FLQUR . STOCKS. Melbourne, October 8. • r A!- census of the whoat and flour stocks which was takon in Victoria on Sep? ( tember 27 showed that : there • were 80,953 bushels of wheat and 4462 . tons ; of flour, which is estimated to Represent, only sixteen days' supply. '■. ... •WEST'AUSTRALIA'S PATRIOTIC . / .FUNDS. Perth, October 8. The Patriotic Funds total £88,000. CENTRAL WAR COUNCIL. ,(Rec. October 8, 10.10 p.m.) Sydney, October 8. TJie Government' h'aVapprbyed of the appointment of a Central,-War .Council, to ensure that adequate provision will be made - for tho employment and .'land settlement of returned soldiers. ' ■