COAL VEND FINED

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 5

COAL VEND FINED

SEVERE SUMMING UP. A GIGANTIC CONSPIRACY. THE PUBLIC OVERCHARGED. ByTelecranh—Press Association—Copyrlnht (Kec. December 22, 9.10 p.m.) Sydney, December 22. In the High Court to-day, Mr. Justice Isaaco concluded tho delivery of his judgment in tho Coal Vend case, and convicted all thirty-nino defendants of the several offences charged againatlhcm. His Honour ordered each to pay a fine of jEfiOO, with tlio exception of the Associated Northern Colliory, because its individual members were amongst tliose fined. An injunction was granted restraining tho defendants from a repetition or continuance of the several offences, of which they were convictcd, and tho Court ordered tho defendants to pay the plaintiff's costs. On tho application of the colliery proprietors, a stay of proceeding was granted in connection with tho payment of the penalties, pending an appeal. [n tho course of his summing up, Mr. Justicc Isaacs referred to tho combination as a gigantic conspiracy. It was difficult to day how much the public was being overcharged for coal, but tho figures indicated that the total improperly gathered by the united efforts of tho colliery and shinning companies Tcached a very high figure. Besides tho detriment to tho public with regard to price, there was the restriction in the choico of coal. 'lhe Vend and the shipping companies had looked to no one's advantage but their own. This they followed "up wherever they could, and to tho greatest possible distance. The defendants had gathered to themselves a giant's strength, and had used it as a giant, not only against the public but on all who stood, or endeavoured to stand, between them and the public. Tho lines imposed are up to tie statutory limit, and total ill), 500.