THE VEND CASE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10283, 11 July 1911, Page 5

THE VEND CASE

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

RESUMED IN SYDNEY. CASE FOR DEFENDANTS. (Received Last Night, 9.40 o'clock.) SYDNEY, July 10. The Coal' Vend case has been resumed. Mr Knox, senior counsel for the defendant colliery proprietors, opened his address. 'He argued that it was impossible to monopolise Newcastle coal, as, except for gas-making, it (bad beoiii shown by evidence that other coals were as good. Where action was taken to preserve trade with the intention of insuring a fair and proper remuneration for all engaged .therein:, it was not an offence against the Act. After dealing with figures, showing that the profit to the owners was only one shilling per ton, he submitted that no Court i&hould interfere with the conduct of an industry by people who understood it. It was ocneeded that a combination of colliery proprietors was necessary in the interests of the mines, and also in. the interests of the shipping industry. He maintained that if the Newcastle colliery owners lowered the price of coal/every competitor in Australia would bo crushed out of existence. There had :been no evidence to show what the profits weire. Even if there had, how was the Court going to say whether they were excessive or no-tr 1 There was no detriment arising from increased prices unless, they were raised out of all proportion to the intrinsic value.