ALLEGED SUGAR TRUST.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 4393, 25 November 1912, Page 5

ALLEGED SUGAR TRUST.

NEW ZEALAND PROSECUTIONS

Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, This Day.

The first prosecution under the Commercial Trusts Act was commenced iu the Supreme Court to-day before the Chief Justice. The King is the plaintiff. and tlie defendants are the Merchants’ Association, the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Levin and Co., W. M. Bannatyne and Co., and Joseph Nathan and Co. Generally speaking the offences alleged against the defendants aw that iu or about October, 1911, the Sugar Company, in breach of the Trust Act. offered or a greed to give to Levin anil Co. a discount of 5 per cent, in respect of purfliascs made by Levin and Co. from tbo Sugar Company for the reason that Levin and Co. were mem tiers of a cemmoroial trust, namely, the Mereliants’ Association. Similar offences are alleged with respect to discount allowed to Bannatyne and Co. and Nathan Co. It is also alleged that the Sugar Company in October, 1911, in breach of the Act, refused to supply sugar to Fairlinirn, M’right and Co., of Christchurch, except on conditions relatively disadvantageous as compared with the conditions on which sugar w as supplied fo the alleged Trust, for the reason that Fairlwiirn, AY right and Co. were not members of and would not act in conformity with the wishes of the alleged Trust. A similar offence is alleged by the Comimm’s refusal to supply sugar to Dellie.ar Bros., of Hamilton. The Merchants’ Association, and the other defendants are alleged to have aided, abetted and counselled or procured the Sugar Companv to commit tlie offences alleged. Tlie final allegations are that all the defendants unlawfully, and in breach of the Act. conspired together to monopolise the supply of sugar in Sew Zealand, and to control the price thereof, sueli monopoly and control being of n nature contrary to the puhlio interest.

Quite a formidable array of counsel is engaged.