SALES OF WHEAT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10613, 11 June 1920, Page 10

SALES OF WHEAT

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. BREACH ALLEGED IN DUNEDIN. PIE PEESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, June 10. In the Supreme Court before Air Justice Sim to-day, A. Stevens and Co. were sued by the Crown for penalties for an alleged breach of regulations in respect to sales of wheat. Air W. O. McGregor, K.C., appeared for the Crown, and Air C. P. Skerrdtt, K.C., and Air A. 8. Adams for the defendants, A. Stevens and Co., and William Josiah Love. Tho statement of claim set forth that Love is a large sharheolder and also managing-direc-tor of the defendant- company, personally controlling the company’s business, and personally responsible for the wholesale buying and selling of grain. The maximum price was fixed on February 2oth, 1919, by an Order-iu-Coun-dl for all wheat grown in New Zealand, such order remaining in force, the rate for free wheat inferior in quality and good milling wheat being 6s 8d per bushel. After last October tho defendants' sold large quantities of such wheat at prices exceeding 6s Bd, the excess prices ranging from 7s 6d to 8s 6d. It. is alleged tho offences were a sale ;of 339 bushels at 7s 6d to Hutchinson, Auckland; 167 bushels to tho same firm at 8s; 336 bushels to the same firm at 8s 3d ; 167 bushels ah 8s 6d to Roach’s, Hastings; 340 bushels at 8s 6d to A. S. Paterson, Wellington ; to the same firm 33 bushels at 8s 6d; to Burch and Co., Wellington, 333 bushels at 8s 6d: to Laeiy and" Co., Wellington, the same quantity alt tire same price; and to tho Loan and Alercantile Company, Wellington, 841 'bushels at 7s 3d, and 708 bushels at 7s 6d. A penalty of £ooo was claimed in respect of each offence.

Defendant’s statement admitted the sales, but mentioned that the prices included sacks.