LONG HEARING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23592, 28 February 1940, Page 13

LONG HEARING

THE WIIAKATANE MILLS 600 SHEETS OF EVIDENCE HEAVY LEGAL'COSTS INVOLVED [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The hearing of the application by Whakatane Paper Mills, Limited, to the Price Investigation Tribunal for permission to increase its prices, which concluded yesterday, occupied 10 days, each of five hours. There were 600 foolscap sheets of typed evidence, each of which averaged 500 words, making a grand total of 30,000 words. Four typists working in half-hour relays noted the questions and answers, submissions of counsel and remarks of the members of the tribunal, Mr. Justice Hunter and Mr. H. L. Wise. These notes were made available to the Court and counsel within an hour of their being taken. While there is no known price for the supply of evidence in such ii proceeding, this being the first public hearing of the Price Tribunal, the supply of such evidence to parties in Supreme Court proceedings would probably cost at least £SO. Approximately 2400 folios of the proceedings were taken, one set each for the tribunal and counsel.

The legal costs will probably be among the highest in any proceedings because of the time involved not only in the case.but in the preparation. Further, the company lias the expense of its executive officers, a number of whom were present for the whole of the inquiry, in the matter of hotel accommodation for a fortnight. In addition there are travelling expenses. When the hearing was concluded Mr. Justice Hunter remarked that none of the 600 pages, of evidence was light reading. Most of it dealt with accounts and required close study. The tribunal would set to work in all its free time toward giving a decision as quickly as it could. In this decision it would attempt to take into account all the relevant circumstances disclosed in the 10 days' hearing. He expressed appreciation to counsel for the able way in which the case was put and also to the expert witnesses, who had put in a considerable amount of time in the preparation of their evidence. He appreciated the evidence of all, particularly the Crown experts, because he realised the long hours of preparatory work entailed.