AUSTRALIAN WOOL CASE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2314, 5 December 1925, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN WOOL CASE

SYDNEY, Nov. 24 The largest and most important civil action that has come before the Queensland Supreme Court was launched last week on behalf of the vendors of skin wool under the War Precautions and Sheepskins Regulalations. The amount involved in the claim is nearly £4,000,000. The defendants are the Commoomvealth of Australia, the Central Wool Committee and “Bawra." The plaintiffs’ claim is on account of all vendors of scoured skin wool for a declaration that they are entitled to receive P a >’- ment for their scoured skin wool sold and supplied in the years 1910 to 1920 at a price fixed on a flat rate price basis of 15 id lb. for greasy skin wool manufactured into such scoured skin wool, and for other declarations. The plaintiffs claim alternative damages, for alleged breach by the defendants of a contract of purchase and sale, by virtue of which the vendors of scoured skin wool sold the wool to the defendants. and the defendants acquired and accepted the same in the years 191 S to 1920. An injunction is also asked for .restraining the defendants from distributing or otherwise parting with moneys received by them under an agreement dated April 1, 1921, by which the Commonwealth Government purported to transfer to them the title, estate, and interest of th e Government in certain moneys or wool then, in the possession of the department of raw material of the Minister!' cf Munitions of the British Government ,and which represented appraised wool, including shorn wool and scoured skin wool, and the proceeds thereof, until the taking of accounts. The plaintiffs also claimed interest on the money retained by the defendants out of moneys payable from time to time to the vendors of skin wool, and known as retention moneys. If.-is expected that the action will be listed for hearing early next year.