SELLING PRICES OF OIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1919, Page 5

SELLING PRICES OF OIL.

,v AN INCREASE REFUSED. ACCUSED OP PROFITEERING. By Telegraph,—Press Asm.—Conyrljht. Received Sept. 9, 7.30 p.m. Sydney, Sept. 9. Pealing with an application at the Necessary Commodities Commission by the Vacuum Oil Company for increases in selling prices, Mr. Justice Edmunds, chairman of the commission, said that when the application was previously before the commission he was of opinion, and still was of the opinion, that the coihmission had been grossly deceived by the applicants. His duty to stand firp between the community and the profite®ing company was'no less now than before. He quoted from a report by the inter-State commission the evidence of a director of the Vacuum Company thjt the profits for the.latter half of the year 1915 were less than ever tltey had been, whereas the report showed that for the year ended November, 1910, they were much greater than during any preceding year. , , \ Counsel for applicants submitted that, as Mr. Justice Edmunds had confessed himself as not having an impartial mind on the matter, he should not sit vhUe the application was heard.

Mr. Justice Edmunds replied that, while holding pronounced, vlewii, he wis quite capable of weighing the evidence judicially. To run away from his duty of standing between tha publio and the company, which had been found by an experienced and patiently-inquiring tribunal guilty of profiteering, would be cowardice.

Counsel for applicants stated that his clients were tjulte prepared for a full inquiry before an impartial tribunal, but lie advised them not to appear before the commission. Thejr thereupon left the court.

The commission refused the application of the Texas Oil Company of Australasia for an increase of 1b per case in the selling price of kerosene and benzine.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.