Australia

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1915, Page 5

Australia

MILITARY CONTRACTS CASE. THE TRIAL OF KIDMAN OPENS. QUESTIONS OF TENDERS. Received June 22, 0.30 p.m. Sydney, June 22. The High Court trial of Arthur Kidman, charged with forging a tender, lias commenced. Tenders were called for supplies of meat and groceries to the German concentration camp. The Crown case was that Kidman submitted several tenders allegedly in the same handwriting, including that signed by Brown though Brown's prices for meat were lower than those of Kidman's firm, which were accepted. After the Tender Board made enquiries the Crown claimed that some of the firms tendering were non-existent. The Chief Justice asked how' the Commonwealth was likely to be prejudiced by Kidman's action. The Crown counsel said the Crown. in considering tenders, was entitled to have genuine tenders from genuine people before it. If not, it was like false bids at an auction, and would deceive somebody ultimately purchasing. Kidman's counsel stated Kidman admitted he put in tenders, and he thought he had a right to do so. Paymaster Dewitt, a member of the Tender Board, gave evidence that the board had examined Kidman in regard to the tenders, and had accepted the meat tender. Afte/ this examination Kidman was in the habit of contracting for military supplies, and his work was always satisfactory.' Major Page, senior member of the Tender Board, deposed that Kidman admitted to him that he had sent tenders in the same handwriting, and added that, he had done so foolishly, and was sorry. E. F. Tait, a member of the Light Horse, and formerly employed in looking after Kidman's interests at various lamps, gave evidence that Kidman said de would like to use his name in connection with some tenders. He agreed, find signed certain papers, but did not know the tender produced had lieeii !übmitted in his name. He had no interest in the tenders in his own name or otherwise, and expected Kidman to larry out of the contracts of tenders accepted. He never expected to carry them out himself. Kidman told him to \ell the Court everything he knew. Charles Brown, a carcase butcher, said lie just knew Kidman by passing the lime of day with him. He never submitted a tender or gave anybody authority to do so.

AUSTRALIA'S DUTY. THE FODDER PROBLEM. Melbourne, June 22. Mr. P«arce, speaking at a recruiting meeting in the Town Hall, said Australia had done more than anybody expected, having sent 03,522 men, while 18,978 were in training, and she was I pledged to send five thousand reinforcements each month. She must set out to do what she can to double, or even treble, these figures. Recruiting could be very much better, especially in Vio> toria. The British authorities had informed them that every man was wanted. They knew there would be difficulties in the way of equipment, but these the Government could surmount. He was confident that with the realisation of the issue Australia could double the number of men in the field.

In an argument with other men, Leslie Bentley praised the Germans, calling them the cleverest race on earth, and the German Emperor a clever man but too much of a tyrant. -Referring to the Australians and New Zeahuiders killed at the Dardanelles, he said: '"lt is good enough for them. They went looking for it and got it." Bentley was fined the maximum penalty of £lO. Regarding threatening letters addressed to a number of aldermen that Germans, to the strength of an army corps, are waitiig to rise, Mr. Pcareu declares that he is not anxious, as all the German reservists are interned. Mr. Pearce states that the Defence Department saved £21,001) by the purchase of 4000 tons of New Zealand fodder. The difference between the -Vow Zealand and Australian price was £1 5s per ton. Sydney, .Tune 22. Mr. Ashford announces that 101)0 ton* of American chaff has been duly divided among necessitous farmers and railway contractors. It cost the Government £ll per ton. He adds that 11,001) tonof wheat are due in August. Senator Gardiner, vice-president of the Federal Executive Council, said that although difficulties bad been encountered in the establishment of a double shift at the small arms factory it would be started in a few weeks. A meeting of Labor men at Lithgow stronglv resented the dela.i. mid d"cided to notify Mr. i'earce that {]:•■ A.iin'eM mated Societv of Engineer- was '.'dim ' to supply all' the skilled hands required within a fortnight. DONATIONS VOli Till'. UK!) i i;<i;«. Received -Tune 22. 7.!') »:i. Svdn.'v. Jin.' •''' Mr. Samuel Uordcrn'has >,en noeii to the Australia Day Fund, condition allv that tbr nionev goes 1.. tlm R"d Cross Tf all the nionev collet".1 -sts to the Red Cross Afv. Herder; ■, W ei.e a further CI Dili). Mr. Holman states the Rod (>■■.- handles the whole of the collected monevs.