ANTI-TRUST ACT

Otago Witness, Issue 2935, 15 June 1910, Page 27

ANTI-TRUST ACT

FURTHER PROSECUTIONS. SYDNEY, June 9. Three additional write under other sections of the Anti-Trust Act have been issued against the Coal Vend Shipping Combine and the Union Steam Ship Company. On May 26 the Federal Attorney-general (Mr Hughes) stated that writs were to be issued against the coal vend, the shipping combine, and tire Union Steam Ship Company of New' Zealand, for alleged offences against the Anti-Trust Act. None of the actions would, however, attempt to interfere with the coai vend’s right to fix a price for ccal. f.o.b Newcastle; nor would they affect the Steamship Owners’ Association’s right to fix freights and fares. The first writ was against the coal vend and companies and firms forming it, and the shipping combine and companies and firms forming it, for offences against the Anti-Trust Act in connection with their joint control of inter-state trade in coal between Newcastle and the States other than Tasmania and New South Wales, and in connection with inter-state shipping. The second writ was against the ccal vend and companies and firms forming it, and the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Ltd.) for offences against the Anti-Trust Act in connection with their joint control of trade in coal between Newcastle and New Zealand and Tasmania, and in connection with shipping between New Zealand and Tasmania. The third writ was against the coal vend and companies and firms forming it for offences against the Anti-Trust Act in connection with their control, with persons at London and elsewhere, of the interstate and foreign trade in coal, and of the shipping of coal from the port of Newcastle for foreign ports. In the first case the defendants cited are: The Associated Northern Collieries, and J. and A. Brown; Australian Agricultural Company; Seaham Colliery Company (Ltd.); Abermain Colliery Company (Ltd.); Caledonian Coal Company (Ltd.); East Greta Coal Mining Company (Ltd.); Newcastle Coal Mining Company (Ltd.); Scot-tish-Australian Mining Company (Ltd.); Hetton Coal Company (Ltd.); Dudley Coal Company (Ltd.); Stockton Coal Company (Ltd.); Stockton Borehole Collieries (Ltd.); Hoddon-Greta Coal Company (Ltd.); William Laidley and Co. (Ltd.); Frances Sneddon and Daniel Sneddon (the trustees of Andrew Sneddon, deceased); Pacific Coal Company (Ltd.); New Lambton Land and Coal Company (Ltd.)• James Rut tie y; Frederick R. Croft; Wickham and Bullock Island Coal Company (Ltd.) ; South Greta Colliery (No Liability); Central Greta Col-

f liery (Ltd.); Lymington Collieries (Ltd.) i the Associated Steamship Companies and the Adelaide Steamship Company (Ltd.); Howard Smith Company (Ltd.); Huddart, Parker, and Company Proprietary (Ltd.)j MTlwraith, M'Eachan, and Company Proprietary (Ltd.). The / plaintiffs’ claim is;—For pecuniary penalties for offences committed by the defendants between September 24, 1906, and May 26, 1910, against section 4 (1) (a) section 7 (I), section 7A and section 7B of pad II of “The Australian Industries Preservation Act, 1906-1909,” and for an injunction j restraining the defendants from the rspetij tion or continuance of the said offences. In the next case the following are the I defendants:—The Associated Northern Col- ! lieries and J. and A. Brown; Australian 1 Agricultural Company; Sea ham Colliery Company (Ltd.); Abermain Colliery Company (Ltd.); Caledonian Coal Company (Ltd.); East Greta Coal Mining Company (Ltd.); Newcastle Coal Mining Company (Ltd.); Scottish-Australian Mining Company (Ltd.); Hetton Coal Mining Company (Ltd.); Dudley Coal Company (Ltd.); Stocton Coal Company (Ltd.); Stockton Borehole Collieries (Ltd.); Heddon-Greta Coal Company (Ltd.); William Laidley and Company (Ltd.); Frances Sneddon and Daniel Sneddon (the trustees of Andrew Sneddon, deceased); Pacific Coal Company (Ltd.); New Lambton Land and Coal Company (Ltd.); James Ruttley; Frederick R. Croft; Wickham and Bullock Island Coal Company (Ltd.); South Greta Colliery (Ltd.); Lymington Collieries (Ltd.); and the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Ltd.). The plaintiffs’ claim is:—For pecuniary penalties or offences committed by tha defendants between September 24, 1906, and May 26, 1910, against section 4 (1) (a), section 7 (I), section 7A, and section 78, of part II of “The Australian Industries Preservation Act, 1906-1909,” and for an injunction restaining the defendants from the repetition or continuance of the said offences. In the third case these cited are:—Tha Associated Northern Collieries, and J. and A. Brown; Australian Agricultural Company ; Seaham, Colliery Company (Ltd.); Abermain Colliery Company (Ltd.); Caledonian Coal Company (Ltd.); East Greta Coal Mining Company (Ltd.); Newcastle Coal Mining Company (Ltd.); Scottish-Aus-tralian Mining Company (Ltd.); Hetton Coal Company (Ltd.); Dudley Coal Company (Ltd.); Stockton Coal Company (Ltd.); Stockton Borehole Collieries (Ltd.) ; Hed-don-Greta Coal Company (Ltd.); William Laidley and Company (Ltd.); Frances Sneddon and Daniel Sneddon (the trustees of Andrew Sneddon, deceased); Pacific Coal Company (Ltd.); New Lambton Land and Ccal Company (Ltd.); James Ruttley; Frederick R. Croft; Wickham and Bullock Island Coal Company (Ltd.); South Greta Colliery (No Liability); Central Greta Colliery (Ltd.); Lvmington Collieries (Ltd.). The plaintiffs’ claim is for pecuniary penalties for offences committed by the defendants between September 24, 1906, and May 26, 1910, against section 4 (1) (a), section 7 (I), section 7A, and section 7B of part II of “ The Australian Industries Preservation Act, 1906-1909.” and for an injunction restraining the defendants from the repitition or continuance of the said offences.