THE WHEAT SEIZURE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2363, 20 January 1915, Page 5

THE WHEAT SEIZURE

INTERSTATE-. COMMISSION'S ' I | ■ JURISDICTION. (Reo. January 19, 10.40 p.m.) Melbourne, January 19. The Inter-State Commission, has ruled, that it, had judicial power to deal with the wheat seizure, and also to join the Farmers' and Settlers' Association aa plaintiffs in. the'case. THE KAIAPOI'S WHEAT. SHIPMENT STILL HELD UP. (Reo. January 20, 0.56"a.m.) Sydney, January IP. have occurred in connection with the Kaiapoi's shipment of wheat for New Zealand, and it is now doubtful when this vessel will sail. Mr, Hughes (Federal Attorney-Gen-eral), states, 'in regard to'the Federal Customs Department's refusal to grant a clearance to the Kaiapoi' that the New South Wales Government offered to deliver to the-owners of the wheat on hoard the Kaiapoi an equivalent quantity if the Inter-State Commission found that the Wheat Acquisition Act was ultra vires. Mr. Hughes suggested as an alternative that the New South Wales Government pay for the wheat at .the price ruling in Victoria on the day of the seizure. ■ Mr. Cann (New South Waleß) replied that his Government was prepared to do this if it could not deliver the wheat as was proposed. ■- Mr. Hughes says that Mr. Cann's proposal was' unsatisfactory as the owners of the wheat were entitled to the' price at which it could have been sold when it was seized. Until he gets a reply to his Jast telegram to Mr. Cann, the Kaiapoi cannot sail for New Zealand.