TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1917, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

m # r Per Press Association.—Copyright. J I To Purchase WheatWellington, May 3 The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon W. D. S. MacDonald, is about to r visit Australia with the object of I making arrangements to purohase ], wheat for New Z ml&ud, if any imp.r- e tations are required to make up the local shortages. The wheat-growers’ response to .the Government’s appeal to extend the areas sown was satisfactory, but much depends on a good season and also upon the railways being able to carry artificial fertilisers without interruption. Otherwise the crops will be reduced. Mr Mao Donald expects to be away for three weeks.

CHARGE AGAINST WEBB Protest at Treatment * Christchurch, May 4 t After the lunch adjournment P. C. c Webb’s case was taken, Hfs entry- t

into the dock was the signal for a j hurst of applause from his supporters f in court, which was instantly silenced, t Webb elated that ha was quire prepared to go on with tbe Taylorville charge and then to make a statement t with regard to the Greymonch charge, i If his Worship was not satisfied with | his statement on this latter charge he £ then asked for the right to apply for t a week’s adjournment in order to al- | low bim to subpoena several Ministers £ of the Crown and officials of the | Miners’ Federation. 1 Mr Raymond, .Crown Prosecutor, E saidT that he preferred to have tbe two cases taken on the same day. If acoaused wished to have witnesses an opportunity would be given him to secure an adjournment. Accused said that the Taylorville case would be proceeded with, as he had no witnesses to call in that. The Magistrate said that he would have to hold his decision in the one f case until he had heard the other. Accused said he was quite prepared to go on with the Taylorville case j now. j The Magistrate stated that as a general principle he did not approve of partly hearing cases and then adjourning them, He was not prepared to hear only the Taylorville ca<e. Accused then asked for an adjournment and ' objected to the treatment ranted out to bim’- It was quite im-

possible for him not having bail to prepare data for his easel Mr Raymond said that the whole of the reports of accused’s speech had > been placed before"him'as soon as it 1 v/as possible, and every consideration i and facility wouli be given him for i the purpose of preparing his defence. Accused—“ The authorities say they have supplied me with a fall copy of my speech. Thiß (waving a couple of sheets of paper) is the result of a two hours’ speech. . This is not my speech. A man in not the opportunity of working up his case. During the last eighteen mouths I hava delivered ovar 300 speeches and shorthand reports have been taken of o.half of them. It is absolutely impossible for a man in gaol getting into touch with hie witnesses.” Accused aaid that he wanted copies of the newspaper reports of his speech. Mr Raymond said that full copies of the notes of tbe speeches held by the Grown had been banded to accused. This was the first time he knew that accused wanted copies of the newspaper report?. He had not the slightest objection to consenting to an adjouramant to enable accused to secure these. Accused aaid that Mr Raymond was quite right in spying that be (accused) had not asked him far the newspaper reprrts. Tbo trouble was that he could not see Mr Raymond, There was no possib'lity of his making a trip to Mars if he were granted bail: The Magistrate, however, refused bail and the cases were adjourned till May 9tb, his Worship stating that if aconsed appealed fora future adjournment he could secure if.