THE COAL VEND

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10213, 15 April 1911, Page 5

THE COAL VEND

CABLE NEWS]

United Press Association — By Electric Telearavh — Copyright.

ALLEGED RESTRAINT OF TRADE

ACTION BY COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT.

(Received .Last Night, S.o o'clock.)

SYDNEY, April 14. The High Court lias commenced the hearing of the Coal Vend cases. in which the Vend is charged with offences against the industries Preservation Act. There is a great array of legal talent on both sides. The charges are that since September, 1906, there has been, and still is a combination between the Northern ..Collieries Association and the Associated Steamship Companies in respect to the trade in Newcastle coal between New South Wales and other Australian States; and that this combination has restrained trade, and was intended to do so, to the detriment of the public. Counsel, in opening the case for I the Commonwealth Government, unI tertook to show that the comlbine set i out to make, in the four years following the formation of the Vend, a profit of £2,000,0*j0 over and above the profit made in 1906. The method employed was to estimate the probable requirements of the trade for the ensuing year, and apportion the .trade among the mines according to their potential output. If a mine put out more than its allotment, it was compelled to pay four shillings per ton for each ton in excess into the Vend fund, to compensate mines which pat out less than their allotment. No quotations were allowed to be made, or contracts entered into until they were referred to the Vend Committee. Counsel urged that the Vend, by abusing its control over competition, had engaged in a great conspiracy with the shipowners to, establish a monopoly over Newcastle coal. It had gone far beyond its pro-. per objects, and, under the pretence; of protection of the interests of the' coal trade, had oppressed the publie.