COAL VEND CASE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10510, 23 December 1911, Page 5

COAL VEND CASE

JUDGMENT CONCLUDED MAXIMUM FINES IMPOSED. (Received Last Night, 9.40 o'clock.) SYDNEY, December 22. Judge Isaacs lias concluded the delivery of Ms' judgment in the coal vend case. He convicted the vftiole of five 39 defendants of the several offences charged against; "them, and ordered each to pay a fine of £SOO, with the exception of tfoe Associated Northern G&Miery, because its individual members were amongst those fined. ,

The Judge granted an injunction, restraining the defendanffcs from a repetition, or continuance of tS»,sev-, eral> offence* of whseb, they were- convicted.

The defendants were ordered io pay plaintiff's costs on application. The colliery proprietors were granted, a stay in, the proceedings in. connection with the penalties, pending an appeal. In* the course'of hie swimming xin. Judjge Isaacr referred to tho combination as a gigantic conspiracy. Ic Was: difficuiDt to say how much the public was being overcharged for coal, but the figures indicated tnat :th© tot«3r improperly gatillered ia .by Mhe united efforts of the coMiery and shipping companies' reached a very high, figure. Besides being a detriment to the pubilio in regard to price, it was a restriction- in choice. The coal, vend and shipping, compaanies looked' to no one's advantage but their and this they followed up whterever they could, and to the greatest possible distance t The defendants gathered' to themselves a giant's strength and used it as> a gaanlb, not only agasnst the public, but on. ali who stood or endeavoured .to stand between! them and the pub-, ••Ifer-C--:.'. "• .''.■•■':^:\S:\S : - '< '' '■'.■ --',y- ■■ ] i" r ' ' v 7 fine-imposed r limit. The Wnount totals £l9;sod. :.,'■..''■";. ",/'•:■;'. / ' Mi