Australia

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 17, 21 January 1915, Page 5

Australia

THE ROON'S PASSENCERS. [United Press Association.] Melbourne, January 20

The Federal Government is seeking to recover £1023, expended on behalf ol British passengers on the German liner lloon, which was held up at U--tavia in August. So far only £240 has been recovered, and the matter has been placed in the hands of the police. It is stated that twenty-four passengers proceeded to New Zealand, and the Dominion Government has been asked to collect £327. THE WHEAT "CRAB." Sydney, January 20. A meeting of the wheat trade carried an emphatic protest against the administration of the Wheat Acquisition Act, particularly regarding the unfairness in giving four agents a concession to trade in chickwheat while the others were deharred. (Received 12.30 p.m.) London, January 20. ' Wheat is quieter.

WOOL IN THE SAME CATECORY. (Received 10.0 a.m.) Sydney, January 21. An unnamed labor league, communicating with Mr Ashfo'rd, commends the wheat seizure, and suggests that the Government should seize wool in the same way. Mr Ashford says that legislation on the matter is unlikely at present. EMPLOYEES RIFLE CLUB. (Received 10.0 a.m.) Sydney, January 21. The" Farmers Limited is the first husiness-firm to form a rifle club among its employees. KAIAPOTS WHEAT CARGO.

Sydney, January 20

Mr Cairn's telegram to Mr Hughes stressed the stipulation that he would hasten the Kaiapoi's departure solely in view of the desperate case of New Zealand, leaving the final settlement to the Commission. There have heen five days' demurrage, at a rate of fifty pounds daily. TRADING WITH THE ENfeMY. Sydney, January 20. Frederick Erhard and Lionel Moss, members of the firm of Groth and Company, oil and color merchants, and Muller, an employee, were charged with trading and attempting to trade with the enemy. Counsel stated that Moss was absent in New Zealand, but pleaded not guilty on his behalf. The Crown's case was that Erhard and Muller were naturalised German subjects. The firm wrote a letter to Fuller and Co., America, ' ordering white lead. Inside this was another letter for the Uneedit Company, Holland, ordering paint, which letter Fuller's were ordered to forward. The letter was posted in the late fee box, the Crown claiming that the intention was that it should thus escape the censors, but it did not. The letter requested the Uneedit Company to obtain certain German goods, with instructions that all German marks should be removed, and that they be sent via America as Dutch goods. The Crown also alleged that documents referring to the order were missing from the usual file. Counsel for the defendants argued that they were doing only what every other business man was doing—try--1 ing to open a new market. There was no evidence that iliey nad tradied, or attempted to trade, with the enemy.'

Un counsel's suggestion the charge was altered to one or attempting to uaue witli the enemy. laniard said tnat ne was the principal partner in Groth's. fie signed' tne iecterj and took the responsibility. All tlie letter asked was lor samples and quotations. His reason for sending via America was to obviate the delay which would have occurred by the Suez route. The firm was honestly trying to open new markets for goods previously obtained from Germany.

The Magistrate agreed that there was no evidence against Moss, who was discharged. The others were convicted. Erhard was lined £2OO, iv default twelve months in gaol; and MIH« ler £IOO, or six months' imprisonment. A SCHEME THAT FAILED AT RABAUL. (Received 10 a.m.) Sydney, January 21. Colonel Holmes states that when the Australian troops rushed the wireless station at Eabaul the mines previously laid by Germans failed to explode, though the men continually marched over them. They were finally exploded by his orders. The mine was formed of a six-inch iron pipe, fifty feet long, filled with dynamite. Above the pipe were placed stones and iron holts and the whole buried a foot beneath the road. When blown up the whole road for seventy feet was ripped up and stones driven u hundred feet in the air.

DEFENCE CONTRACT CLAUSE. (Received 10 a.m.) Melbourne, January 21. The President of the Chamber 1 of Manufacturers, replying to Mr Jensen's remarks concerning the new clause in the Defence contracts cabled yesterday, said that to choose a time of national crisis to insert a new clause to threaten internment of anyone opposing it was an incident more appropriate to the German Fatherland than to free Australia.