PROFITEERING IN AUSTRALIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17726, 10 September 1919, Page 5

PROFITEERING IN AUSTRALIA

■»■ AN OUTSPOKEN JUDGE. COUNSEL'S VIRTUOUS INDIGNATION. APPLICATION FOR INCREASED PRICES REFUSED. Press Association—By .telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY,'September 9. (Received Sept. 9, at 7.60 p.m.) Dealing with an application to the Necessary Commodities Commission by tho Vacuum Oil Company for increases iu selling prices, .Mr Justice Edmunds, chairman of tho commission, said that when tho application was previously before the commission he was of the opinion, and iitill was of the opinion, that tho commission had been grossly deceived by the applicants. It was his dutv to stand between the community and profiteering. Tho company was reaping profits no k';s i now than before. Mr Justice Edmunds then quoted from, the report of the Interstate Commission evidence given by the director of tho Vacuum Company that the profits for tho hitler half of the'year 1915 were less than they had ever been, whereas tho report showed that for the year ended November, 1915, they wero much greater than during any preceding year. Counsel for the .applicants submitted that as Mr Justice Edmunds had confessed himself as not having an impartial mind on the matter, he should not Eit while the application was heard. Mr Justice Edmunds replied that, while holding pronounced views he was quite capable of weighing evidence judicially. To run away from his duty to stand between the public and a company which had been found by an experienced and patiently-inquiring tribunal guilty of profiteering would be cowardice. Counsel for the applicants stated that his clients were quite prepared for full inquiry before an impartial tribunal, but advised them not to appear before this commission. They thereupon left the court. The commission refused the application of the Texas Oil Company of Australasia for an increase of Is per case in tho selling price of kerosene and benzine.