ALLEGED COMBINE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 130, 2 June 1921, Page 8

ALLEGED COMBINE

CASE FOR DEFENCE CONTINUED

" The hearing of the case for the defence in the Supreme Court civil action, wherein A. R. Hislop, Ltd., merchants, of (Wellington, represented' by Mr. T, \iNeave, sought to recover £597 Is 4d : damages from, the Addington Iron [Rolling Mills Company, for which Mr. 3T. S. Wilding (Ohristchurch) appeared, '-.■was continued yesterday afternoon. The case is unusual, in that the plain(tiffs allege that they have been boycotted ,;S>y a combine among wholesale dealers : in: iron, as they did not s«ll at the association price. '..''•' : ; Albeit James Rawsstron, jnanager of | jthe Addington mills, gave evidence of ■ the discussion, in defendants' office. No i. contract was made, nor was any wing 'said as to Hislops not buying elsevyhorp. .-Matters were merely talked over generally.' ;•• *■ To Mt. Neave :• He had not authi'">ased Waller to make any arrangement as '.'to price, "which should not be below *that of other wholesalers.". No duration :/oi the business agreement was decided ■.upon, and tho visit to plaintiffs' office ;was merely in the nature of a friend'y '-..Business call. . Waller had no right to '.tell the'farriers'to buy from Hislop only, >nd witness did not think that he would make such a statement. No firm re.'fused to take the company's goods, brA there was discussion in some quarters of the association as to the supply to tho ■ Percy George Waller, travelling repre'Seotatiye v of. the defendant company,, ■stated,- in his evidence, .thajb.no difficulty .■•vas .anticipated in the matter of doing •■Jnisiness with the'plaintiffs till certain "wholesalers complained that plaintiffs ;were not recognised as regular wholesale i'dealers, and threatened .to withdraw their trade unless the defendants discontinued supplying Hislop, Ltd. ' Hia Honour pointed out to the jury '; that there were two main questions for consideration : (a) Was there any agree■ment between the parties that the defendants should sell no iron in(thc North Island, except through plaintiffs? (b) 'Did plaintiffs make any undertaking to ;handle the whole of the company's out■.put ; of iron ? ; ■' The case was continued this morning, : when law points were discussed by counsel, and his-Honour summed up the eviidence- in detail. : The jury. retired at 11.40 a.m., and i had not returned up to the time of ',-going to press.