COMMONWEALTH NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 28 May 1915, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH NEWS.

FURTHER RABAUL LOOTING CHARGES.

EXHAUSTIVE INQUIRY PROMISED

DEFENCE CONTRACT ALLEGATIONS.

A VEHEMENT PROTEST

MELBOURNE, May 27. in The House, Mr Anstev, referring to the lotting at Rabaul flung further serious charges against officers. He described the recent court-martial as a premeditated farce, and alleged not only robbery but forgery. Tb° e^eat bulk of the loot came by the Berrina. Mr Cook proniioeu an exhaustive inquiry.

SYDNEY, May 27. In reference to yesterday's cable, Mr Arthur Kidman, in a statement published in the press, protests vehemently against the department permitting the publication of the matter, more especially as the matter is sub judiee, and the papers cannot give his .side of the question. He ■ points ■ out that only after failure for months to obtain the payment of moneys due to him. and after he had issued a writ for nearly £9000 and notified the department about the issue of writs for about £5000 more was it that the proceedings in question were instituted. He adds the public will be astounded when they learn the treatment he received. In spite of the matters in question, he is still by far the largest contractor in foodstuffs for the military forces.

(Yesterday's message stated that in connection with the defence contracts allegations, High Court indictments had been issued" by the Attorney-Gen-eral (Mr Hughes) against Arthur Kidman, of Sydney, together with Major Arthur George O'Donnell and Sergeant Leslie,-of Sydney. The indictment alleged four conspiracy offences, and against Arthur Kidman two charges of forgery and uttering between August, 1914, and the current month.)