Begins
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
New Guinea Timber Case Begins
THE New Guinea • timber lease case, which was postponed on two previous occasions owing to the ill-health of one of the accused, Edward Farrell, began in Sydney on November 8. Farrell is still too ill to stand tidal and he will be tried later.
Four men are charged with conspiring to cheat and defraud Hancock and Gore Ltd., timber merchants of Brisbane, in respect of an alleged timber lease in the Bulolo Valley, New Guinea. Those charged, and their counsel (shown in parenthesis) are: Edward Farrell (Mr. J. E. Cassidy, KC, and Mr. G. Armstrong); J. s. (“Jock”) Garden and his son, Harcourt Garden (Mr. Simon Isaacs): Ray Parer (Mr. W. R. Dovey, KC, and Mr. R. J.
Marr). Mr. W. J. Shand. KC. and Mr.
J. W. Smyth are appearing for the Crown.
A number of officials, including the Minister of External Territories, Mr.
Ward, will be called to give evidence. It is anticipated that they will be detained in Sydney for some time as the hearing of the case is expected to last several weeks. They will also have to stand by for the trial of Farrell. (The opening of the present trial, November 8, coincided with the date on which the “PIM,” this month, goes to press.)