SETTLED AT LAST!

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 986, 29 November 1910, Page 6

SETTLED AT LAST!

—« STATE AND N.Z. FARMERS' CD. COMPANY. The long-standing and much-discussed claim of the Now Zealand Farmers' Cooperative Distributing Co. against tho State Coal Department in respect of tho damage by coal dust to the company's piemises in Victoria Street has been settled at last. It will bo remembered that two years ago, after the company had petitioned Parliament, the Government waived tho Crown Suits Act to allow tho company-to take action'for damages in the Supremo Court, when a verdict was given for .£2OO and costs for plaintiff. The nuisance was then partially abated, but continued to the extent of still rendering the company's premises unlcttnblc. The Government refused to again waive their rights under tho Act, and the aid of Parliament was again invoked, when the Public Petitions Committee recommended that the mailer in dispute bo submitted to arbitration. This course, however, was not followed, and after many discussions in the House, Mr. Field, M.P., who had taken.charge of the various petitions, last session moved on the Mines Estimates for a reduction of the salary of tho manager of the Stale Coal Depot. Tho Government was defeated on this motion, but tho difficulty still remained unsettled.. After protracted interviews between Mr. Field and tho company's manager with the Government, the directors finally empowered Mr. Field to came to n settlement, nnd the result has been that the Primo Minister promised tho member for Otaki a day or two back on tho floor of the House to place a sura of .£650 on the Supplementary Estimates in final extinction of the claim. The company will thus have received .£BSO in all to satisfy a loss which tho directors estimate as considerably in excess of that sum. They express themselves as satisfied with the settlement, and in their Teport, to be presented at the annual meeting of shareholders on December 13, commend Mr. Field for his indefatigable efforts in the company's behalf, and express their thanks to him for His invaluable assistance. Mention is also made in tho report of the fact that the much-needed amendment this session of tho Crown Suits Act is largely tho result of the contest of tho, company with • tho Government.