WHEAT ACQUISITION ALLEGATIONS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 24 May 1915, Page 8

WHEAT ACQUISITION ALLEGATIONS.

CENSORSHIP METHODS

SENATOR PEARCE EXPLAINS

(Received May 24, 8.55 a.m.)

SYDNEY, May 24. Judge Ferguson, acting as a Royal Commission to enquire into the allegations of bribery in connection with the Wheat Acquisition Act, reports that the allegations wore unfounded.

Mr Hali will not agree to wholesale internment of Germany. He estimates that there are over thirty thousand in Australia, and their segregation would cdfct a million per annum.

MELBOURNE, May 24. Mr Pearce explains that the Government received an official cable that the troops had left Egypt, but was instructed that thr information was secret and prohibited from publication in the newspapers. Ho received a cable stating that tiio movements of troops wero being published in England, and the Government cabled to the Imperial authorities to obtain release of the news, but did not receive a leply. He again cabled seeking permission, and also for pr. bication of the King s message congratulating Australia on the successful landing of the troops. The Commonwealth then decided to release the news. The blame therefore did not rrsl with the Commonwealth.