COAL VEND CASE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1317, 21 December 1911, Page 5

COAL VEND CASE.

A VOLUMINOUS JUDGMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyricht (Rec. December 20, 10.20 p.m.) Sydney, December 20. Mr. Justice Isaacs, in the High Court to-day, commenced the delivery of his judgment in the Coal Vend case. It is expected (hat the delivery of (he judgment will occupy two days. Shortly stated, the case amounted to allegations against the associated northern colliery proprietors and certain steamship owners of entering into a contract to restrain the inter-State trade in Maitlnud and Newcastle, in contravention of tho Industries Preservation Act, and to the detriment of the public. Tho defence was a general denial of the charges. In the course of his remarks Mr. Justico Isaacs said the whole course of conduct of both sets of defendants indubitably established that from the latter part of ISOG they were working together under some agreement. The cvi. deuce disclosed- allegations as to a combination a'.id its continuance down to tho commencement of tho action was proved.

Other important issuos liave still to be dealt with. •

The hearing of the evidence and counsel* addresses in th 6 Coal Vend case occupied <3 days, and ended on August 29 lose. On the conclusion of this part of the case, Mr. Justice Isaacs referred certjun legal ouestious to the I-ulI Bench of tile High Court in Melbourne before beginning the preparation of his .judgment. 1 ho case has been one of the lengthiest and most expensive in the annals of Australian litigation. Eleven barristers were engaged continuously, three being from States outside' New South Wales, and five King's Counsel being briefed, including Mr. B. R. Wise and Mr. Shand.' for the Crown, Mr. Adrian Knox for the colliery proprietors, Mr. Mitchell for the shipping defendants, and Mr. J. L. Campbell for Messrs. ,T. and A. Brown. The evidence has been voluminous, and runs into about 2SOO closely typed folios. A sreat mass ot documents was put iu evidence, and, lieforo liis Honour came to ho bad a formidable array ot table. l ?, dinsnuns. aml uraplis showing Mfo> and falls in the prices of coal, to wreMlp witlj. T( j* r/uito certain, savs the S.vrmev "Herald," that whatever Mtlo o=r* the case will have a heavy legal biJl ( to pay, running into five figures.