ANTARCTIC WHALES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11949, 20 May 1933, Page 5

ANTARCTIC WHALES

NORWEGIAN COMPANIES SUE r . . . UNILEVER, LTD.

FIRM MUST TAKE ALL THE

CATCH

(U.P.A. by Elec, let Copyright! LONDON, May IS

The House- of Lords allowed the appeal of the Norwegian whaling companies versus Unilever, Ltd., agaibst tho Appeal Court, decision. Damages are to be assessed.

The action involved a claim lor £-147,000 for an alleged breach of contract. The whaling companies contended that the defendants bad agreed to take the whole of Uieir Antarctic catch of whale oil for the season, even if it exceeded the carrying capacity «■ of the factory ships. For the defence it was maintained that liability extended only to the oil produce which the factory ships stored, carried, and delivered. - Tho original decision of Mr. Justice Branson pointed out that the factoryships wore capable of producing 21.000 barrels, valued at £875,000, but their carrying power was 11,850 barrels. valued at £483,750. Between tho dates of the contract- and the refusal of the oil the price slumped from £25 to £l2 10s a ton. His judgment was to the effect that the word “cargo” meant only what the ships were able to produce and car-

* The Court of Appeal concurred in Mr. Justice Branson’s finding and the whaling companies took the matter to the Privy Council, whose decision is now announced in their f«-