THE COAL VEND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10175, 9 June 1911, Page 1

THE COAL VEND.

THE STORY OF AN AGREEMENT. United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, June 8. In the Vend case, Mr Cant, managing director of the Kethel Company, admitted that during the strike an agreement was entered into between the Kethel Company and Mr Hughes, Attorney-General. Senator Guthrie and Mr Peter Bowling relating to the sale of coal from the Young Wallsend and Ebbw Main collieries, "Messrs Hughes, Guthrie and Bowling, called the purchasers, in consideration of the payment of a pound sterling, to have the option to dispose of coal from the said collieries, the company to manage the collieries. It is guaranteed that during the agreement, less accident, the output shall be at least a thousand tons a day. All money above nine shillings per ton received for the c-oal to be divided equally between the company and the purchasers. The purchasers may terminate the agreement at any time by giving two days' notice. * The company may terminate when the selling price falls below eleven shillings per ton or it becomes impossible to sell at the price fixed in the manner provided." Attached to the agreement was an endorsement by Messrs Hughes, Guthrie and Bowling assigning their interests in the agreement to Messrs Daniel Hutton, Albert Burns and Peter Bowling, the last three undertaking to acquit and release the first three from all responsibility in relation to the agreement. Witness said that ultimately the Railway Commissioners took possession of all coal that 'had been raised and paid 7s 7d a ton for it.