SUGAR TRUST CASE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 24 April 1913, Page 7

SUGAR TRUST CASE.

ARGUMENT CONTINUED

BT TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, April 24. _ The Sugar Trust case is being continued. Mr Myers contended that the public had not been prejudiced by combmed buying by the Merchants' Association; on the contrary, he submitted ±i! comomed buying was beneficial to the nublic, inasmuch as it tended to lower the price, not only of sugar, but of other commodities. He further contended that in considering whether a transaction was contrary to public interests, the Court should not test the matter by the business methods employed by Fairbairn, Wright and Co. but according to ordinary business methods. The Hon A. L. Herdman, Attorneygeneral, replied. He said he wished to refute toe suggestion that there were no rival concerns fighting for control of the sugar trade. Fairbairn. Wright and Co. were acting only as legitimate merchants. H-hife the combine were actinias a ring, sugar being transmitted by the War Company direct to individual members of the ring. when directed and rarely being handled by members of the rmg. Members of the ring therefore obtained a discount for practically doing nothing. This showed the fundamental difference between the methods of Fairbairn, W right and Co. and those of the combine.