BLOCKING COMBINES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 227, 25 September 1907, Page 3

BLOCKING COMBINES.

A 13111 has been introduced in the Legislative Assembly of West Australia for the preservation of Australian industries and the prevention of combinations in restraint of trade*. The measure provides for. making it an offence against the law to form a combination to restrain trade by unfair competition or a reduction of wages so as to injure the public. Competition is to be deemed unfair, unless the contrary is proved, (a) if the defendant is a commercial trustj (b) if competition would probably, or does, in fact, result in inadequate remuneration for labour in any industry ; (c) if competition would probably, or does, in fact, result in creating substantial disorganisation in any industry, or in throwing workers out of employment; (d) if defendant, with respect to any goods or services' which are the subject of competition, gives, offers, or promises to any person any rebate, refund, discount, or reward upon condition that that person deals, or in consideration of his having dealt, with defendant to the exclusion of other persons dealing in similar goods or services. In determining whether the competition is unfair, regard shall he had to the management, processes, and the plant or machinery employed or adopted in the industry affected by competition being reasonably efficient and up-to-date. The measure provides that no criminal proceedings shall be instituted under the Act without the written consent of the Attorney-General.—New Zealand Times.