THE COAL VEND.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1318, 22 December 1911, Page 5

THE COAL VEND.

» > ADVERSE SUMMING IP. POSITION OF SHIPPING COMPANIES. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Sydney, December 21. Mr. Justice Isaacs, in continuing his judgment in the Coal A'eud case, described tho combination entered into by tho colliery owners as obviously detrimental to tho public. The increase in the prico of coal was coincident with tho coming into operation of tho combined agreement. The whole drift of tho judgment as far as it has gono is against the defendants. (Rec. December 21, 8.55 p.m.) Mr. Justice Isaacs continued his summing up in tho Coal A T cnd caso throughout to-day, and it is still unfinished. His Honour declared that the conduct of the defendants would indicate their intention to combine for the purposo of raising tho prices of coal to a height limited only by tho possibility of obtaining it. -Dealing with tho shipping companies, his Honour said they carried on tho excess imposed by tho Vend, and were just as much responsible as tho colliery proprietors. Bcforo tho combined agreement, the shippers played off ouo colliery against p another. Tho shipping defendants must bo held responsible even if tho detriment to tho public travelled no further than to tho declaration of (ho excessivo prices pronounced by tho Vend and executed by tho shipping companies. But tho detriment proceeded further than this, for tho companies had been using their powers of combination to gain additional advantage to themselves.