APPEAL COURT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 20 July 1925, Page 4

APPEAL COURT

FLOUR AIILLING CASE

United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, This Day. Both divisions of the Appeal Court were engaged hearing the appeal in the flour-milling case, heard at Dunedin, in which penalties were sought, for alleged breaches of the Commercial lYusts Act, 1910 (relating to monopolies) from the Crown Milling Company Limited, of Dunedin, flourmillers; Fleming and Co., Ltd., Invercargill, flour milters; the the Atlas Roller Flour and Oatmeal Mills (Evans and Co.), Timaru, flour millers; Wood Bros., Ltd., Christchurch, flour millers; arid Distributors Ltd. _ Christchurch, flour millers’ agents, which companies are respondents in the present proceedings. The offence alleged was that respondents conspired together to monopolise wholly or partially the supply of Hour, bran, and pollard, in New Zealand, to control its price, and supply such monopoly, the control being of a nature contrary to the public interest. It was ailegad that control was exercised by the incorporation in October, 1923, of Distributors Limited for the purpose of acting as sole selling agent for flour, bran, and pollard for all such flourmillers as should enter into an agreement to that effect. After such incorporation nearly all the flour millers in New Zealand entered into this agreement for a period of about six years. Ihe Crown contended that the incorporation of Distributors Limited resulted in many bakers being unable to obtain the brands of flour ordered, and only getting an inferior article. Air Justice Sun found in favour of respondents, and the Crown is now appealing against that decison. The case is likelv to last a week.