AUSTRALIAN "COAL VEND."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 905, 26 August 1910, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN "COAL VEND."

FEDERAL PROSECUTION. SHIPPING AND COAL COMPANIES ARRAIGNED. HEARING IN OCTOBER. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. (Eec. August 26, 0.45 a.m.) ■ Melbourne, August 23. The Commonwealth law authorities today served upon tho coal and shipping companies, which are alleged to, constitute the combination known separately as the "Coal Vend" aud the "Shipping Combine," a statement of claim in respect of the first writs issued recently, details of which wore cabled on May 20, and charging tho defendants with breaches of tho Industries Preservation Act in connection with tho control of the inter-State coal trade. Tho King and, the Commonwealth At-torney-General are tho plaintiffs, &nd the defendants are: The Associated Northern Collieries.. Tho Associated Steamship Compuuies. Tho Adelaide- Stoainiihip Company. The Howard Smith S.S. Company. The Huddart-Parker Company. M'llwraith, M'Eachern and Company. It is understood that tho proceedings arc being taken on tho ground that the alleged agreement between the companies 18 an unlawful combination within the meaning of the incoming Anti-Trust Act, and in restraint of trade, whereby the people of other States other than New South Wales and Tasmania are ' compelled to pay higher prices for coal than they would have to do if the combination was non-existent.

It is expected that Ike proceedings will come bei'oro the High Court in October.