SELLING PRICE OF OIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2027, 11 September 1919, Page 3

SELLING PRICE OF OIL.

APPLICATION BY VACUUM COY. STRONG REMARKS BY A JUDGE. .Sydney,. Septemh. 9. Dealing with an application submitted to the Necessary Commodities Commission by the Vacuum Oil Company for increases in the selling prices, Mr Justice Edmunds, Chairman of the Commission, said that Avhen the application was previously before the Commission, he was of opinion, and he still held the opinion, that the Commission had been grossly deceived by the applicants. His duty to stand bet ween the community and a profiteering company Avas no less now than it AA’as before. Ho then quoted from Iho Report of the .Interstate Commission the evidence of a director of the Vacuum Company that “'(ho profits for the latter half-year of 1915 were less than they had ever been.” Avhercas, the Report showed that for the year ended November, 1915, (hey Avere much greater than daring any preceding year.

Counsel for the applicants submitted that as Mr Justice Edmunds had confessed himself as not having an impartial mind on the matter, he should not sit Avhile the application was heard.

Mr Juslicc Edmunds replied that while he held pronounced views, lie was quite ea])ahle of weighing evidence judicially. To rim away from his duty io stand between the public and the company which had been found by an experienced and pati-ently-inquiring tribunal guilty of profiteering would be cowardice. Counsel for the applicants stated that his clients were quite, prepared for a full inquiry before an impartial tribunal, but advised them not to appear before the Commission. They thereupon left the Court.

The Commission refused an application by the Texas Oil Company of Australasia for an increase of Is per ease in the selling price of kerosene and benzine.