SORTING CHARGES

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 91, 14 October 1920, Page 8

SORTING CHARGES

APPEAL TO PRIVY COUNCIL.

Leave to appeal to the Privy Council was granted by the Court of Appeal to-.' day in the case of the King against Alexander Hatrick and Co., of Wanga-^ nui, concerning the right of the Railway Department to impose a sorting charge on goods landed at AVanganui for Wanganui importers. On the Bench were their Honours the Chief Justice (Sir Bobert Stout), Mr. Justice Cooper, and Mr. Justice Chapman. Mr. A. Gray, K.C., with him Mr. D. S. Smith, appepared for tho appellant Hatrick, and Mr. J. Prendeville for the Crown. The eas© was originally before Sir Bassett Edwards, from whom the defendant appealed to the Court of Appeal. The Court, by a verdict of three Judges to two, dismissed the appsal, and the defendant accordingly appealed to the Privy Councii. The wharf at Wnnganui is the property of the-Railway Department, which originally sorted the goods without malting any charge. Recently, however, a charge was imposed, and it was against this that the defendant firm, on behalf of Wanganui importers generally, protested, claiming the Crown had no right to impose the charge, which, added materially to the landed cost of goods at Wanganui. The Court of Appead. granted leave for the suspension of judgment during the shearing of the appeal to the Privy Council. '