COAL VEND CASE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 9, 21 December 1911, Page 6

COAL VEND CASE.

(Received 21, 9.40 a.in.) Sydney, December 21. In the vend judgment Judge Isaacs described the combination entered into by the colliery owners as obviously detrimental to the public. The increase in the price of coal was coincident with the operation of the combined agreement. The whole drift of the judgment as far as it has gone is against defendants. A LENGTHY JUDGMENT. Sydney, December 20. Judge Isaacs, in the High Court, commenced delivery of judgment in the coal vend case. It is expected to occupy two days. Shortly stated, the case- amounted to allegations against the Associated Northern Colliery proprietors and certain steamship owners of entering into a contract to restrain inter-State trade in Maitland and Newcastle coal, in contravention of the Industries Preservation Act, to the detriment of the public. The defence was a general denial of the charges. In the course of his remarks, Judge Isaacs said the whole course of conduct of both sets of defendants indubitably established that from the latter part of 1906 they were working together on some agreement. The evidence disclosed allegations as to the combination. Its continuance down to the commencement of the action was proved. Other important issues are still to be dealt with.