AN INTERESTING CASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10458, 24 October 1911, Page 6

AN INTERESTING CASE.

NO JURISDICTION.

By Telegzaph—Press Association.

■BUNEDIiN", Last Night. Mr Bartholomew, S.M., gave ibis decision this morning in the Walkure case, holoing that the North German Confederation had lost its personal identity, so there was- no nation to which the Gazette notice could apply. Therefore the Court had no jurisdiction, so the information must 'be dismissed.

An interesting point ijhen, 'Cropped up as to what would foe done with the men after being discharged from custody. Mir Bartholomew pointed out that under .the Immigration Restriction Act *he police could put the mien back on the ship. It is l contended in legal circles that 'if action is taken under the Habeas Corpus Act, the police could be prevented from putting the' men on board. (Eight Chinese, arrested for refusing duty on. the German steamer Walkure, were before the Police Court yesterday. 'Mr MacGregor, in ansrow to a point raised for the defence., that the Court had no jurisdiction, produced a Gazette of 1869, showing \iiab the North German Confederation, had'in that year claimed (benefits under our Shipping Act of 1860, and that proclamation had never ibeen revoked. Mr Scurr retorted that the North German Confederation went out of existence after the Franco-Prussian- War, and there was no agreement as to German ships nor evidence that this 1 nation desired the benefits of our Axsfc.)