THE COAL VEND

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10220, 22 April 1911, Page 5

THE COAL VEND

'cable news

United Press Association—By "Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

ALLEGED CONTEMPT OF COURT.

SPEECH BY MR HUGHES

(Received Last Night, 11.35 o'clock) SYDNEY, April 21.

The .Hon. Mi- Hughes, .speaking on the referenda proposal, at Adelaide, is reported to have said that the Coal Vend >vas being prosecuted not before it was time, because it had been exploiting the people. It had a special affection for South Australia. When South Australia proposed to have its own mine, it seemed, in the eyes of the Vend, that the pioposal emanated from Satan. The Vend had stopped it, and were now supplying ooal at the old profits in the old way. He believed that the day of competition had gone, and the day of co-operation was here. He reiterated the statement 'that the combines and trusts would finance the' Opposition to fight the referenda.

Counsel for the defendants, to defend the case, drew Mr , Justice Isaacs' attention to the report, and made application to call the Attor-ney-General to show whether he made the statement, which he (counsel) contended was contempt of Court, the case ibeing sub-judice. Counsel sought an ex parte interim injunction, restraining Mr Hughes from making a similar statement or any comment until the proceedings terminated:.

Mr Justice Isaacs refused to express, an opinion because (1) Mr Hughes was not present; (2) there were great and- important issuc-s of a political nature connected wit".i the observations, and therefore ho would do nothing, to prejudice the other issues elsewhere. He would say he would require an appearance to be tnade upon notice, so that, a full and fair opportunity would be given to hear what he urged, and to offer a defence.

To-clay's evidence was of a formal character.