ALLEGED PROFITEERING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14141, 11 June 1920, Page 5

ALLEGED PROFITEERING.

SALES OF WHEAT. {By Telegraph—Press Association.) ■ DUNEDIN, Thursday, in the Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Sim to-day, A. Stevens and Co. were sued by the Crown for penalties for an alleged breach of regulations in respect to sales of wheat. Mr W. C. .McGregor, K.C., appeared for the Crown, and Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C., mid Mr A. S. Adams for the defendants, A. Stevens and Co., and William Josiah Love. The statement ol claim set forth that Love is a large shareholder and ajso managing director of the defendant company/ personally controlling the (tympany’s business, and wds personally responsible for the wholesale buying and ,selling of grain. . The maximum price was fixed on February 25th. 1919, by an Order-in-Council for all wheat grown in New Zealand, such, order remaining in force, the rate foy free 'wheat inferior in quality and good milling Wheat being Gs «d pet buscbl. After last October the defendants sold largii quantities.,,of such wheat at prices’ exceeding 6s Bd, the excess'pi-ices ranging from 7s 6d to 6d. .It is alleged that the ' offencefe were a sale of 339 bushelA at <s Gcf tp Hutchinson, the same firm qf 8s; U 56 bushels td'thp same firm 167' bushels’ at Cd to Hastings; 345 bush'blfe at 8s ,6,d to A,'’S.’.Paterson, Wellington,; to tho same, firm'33 bushels at' 8s 6d'; to Burch and Co., Wellington, 333 btislfeis at‘Ss 6d; to Laery and Co., Wellington, the same, quantity at the same price; and to the Loan and Mercantile Company, Wellington, 841 bushels at. i s 3d, and 70S bushels at. 7s 6d. A penalty of £soo’-was claimed in respect-of each offence.

Defendant’s statement admitted - the sales, but mentioned that the prices included sacks'. ' . i