COAL DEALERS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1932, Page 8

COAL DEALERS

j. / ! : -b’ A TRUST CHARGE.

DEFENDANTS FINED.

PALMERSTON NORTH’, Nov. 3

; An action under the Comihereihl Trusts Act was brought in thfe Supreme Court to-day. Various specific acts * that are frequently taken fto achieve a combination or a monopo.y are prohibited by this. Act, 1 under heavy penalties.; ■ In the present case, a cool dealer, named. For no, was refused a supply of coal by the defendans, except at a price higher than'that which defendants charged to other traders, the : reason being that’ Foino is - not a jnember of the . Coal Merchants’ Association/ which had, as one of its objects, the control 1 of the retail selling; price■ of coal; • ‘ 1 " '' >*'

Tlie defendants were Wm. Pnklowski, Harry Tuson, Walter Ruchanau. Edward George Child, Wm. James Child, Edward Waler Child, of Palmerston North City Coal Merchants’ Association, and the Pukemiro Collie"ies -Ltd; ' •V'*.- ‘'.vv-rV ■ /' •

. The Grown Prosecutor pointed out that if the whole of the coal dealers became members of' the Association, it was q bite -clear that there would be'i a- -tendency* for 5 them to consider their” own interests exclusively/ and for the public to suffer. ■ iT-he defendants’ were charged, counsel stated, wth refusing-to) selFcoaf to Porno, except' under disadvantageous conditions, for the reason that he was. not a member of their » Association,; terms being that Forno was. required to pay ten shillings l ppr ton more for his coal than was charged'to the Association, members, .Counsel added that, so far, as the Pukemird Collieries were concerned, .all ! of #ie -Waikato Coal Companies - were: associated, and the Pukemiro Coy; was made a. defendant because -it -that/it also had, committed an offence by. directly ref using; to-supply Forno.

All of the defendants : admitted tho offence/ they agreed to accept tile following penalties, subject to the Court’s approval, which was given: Pulowski, £2O; Coal Merchants’ Association, £SO: costs were allocated at* follows: Pukemiro Coy. £25, phis half disbursements ; the other defendants £25, plus half of the "disbifrsemen'tb.