FLOURMILLING CASE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10457, 25 July 1925, Page 4

FLOURMILLING CASE.

ARGUMENTS FOR RESPONDENTS. QUESTION OF PUBLIC INTEREST (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Continuing his argument . in the flourmilling case before the Appeal Court vesterday, Mr Skerrett <for respondents) said: The Crown states that the Government was in no way allied to Distributors, but Ministers knew how this company came to be formed and were conversant with details, and approved. The Government say that it has nursed a viper in its bosom. The institution of this action looks like a political manoeuvre emanating from Invercargill. Once the Court has ascertained that the major scope of the combine is unobjectionable, minor matters relating to disadvantages of the scheme may be disregarded. The scheme does away with gambling in wheat, because the flourmiller can gauge how much he desires. In determining whether the combination is contrary to the public interest, it must be shown that the disadvantages" outweigh the advantages. Given a combination that is legal," inconveniences and losses in its working should be passed over if they are minor elements in its operations. Thev may be mere phases arising from accidental circumstances. They may be merelv temporary. It was no part of the scheme to take away from bakers or storekeepers the right to choose their particular brands of flour. On the contrary, Distributors wanted them_to, and were sedulous in complying with, demands. Argument was continued all this morning, and the case was adjourned at noon till Monday. * :i .'", ....JZZZZ.