R v Associated Northern Collieries

R v Associated Northern Collieries[1] (the Coal-Vend Case) is a decision of the High Court of Australia concerning the activities of the Coal-Vend cartel. The convictions entered by Isaacs J in this decision were later set aside by the Full Court (Griffith CJ, Barton and O'Connor JJ) in Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd v The King.[2]

R v Associated Northern Collieries
CourtHigh Court of Australia
Full case nameThe King and the Attorney-General of the Commonwealth v The Associated Northern Collieries and others
Decided22 December 1911
Citations[1911] HCA 73, (1911) 14 CLR 387
Case history
Prior actionHuddart, Parker & Co Pty Ltd v Moorehead (1909) 8 CLR 330
Subsequent actionMelbourne Steamship Co Ltd v Moorehead (1912) 15 CLR 333
Court membership
Judge sittingIsaacs J
Case opinions
I convict the defendants, and each and every of them, of the several offences severally found against them respectively as above stated.[1]: 660 
Laws applied
Overruled by
Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd v The King [1912] HCA 58, (1912) 15 CLR 65

Decision

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Following a trial in the original jurisdiction of the High Court, Isaacs J convicted each of the 40 defendants (16 individuals, 22 corporations and 2 commercial trusts)[1]: 396  of cartel offences against the Australian Industries Preservation Act,[3] a (now repealed) antitrust law based on the United States' Sherman Act.

Political context

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The trial was eagerly followed in the news media. Newspapers such as the Sydney Morning Herald regularly reported on the daily course of the trial.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c R v Associated Northern Collieries [1911] HCA 73, (1911) 14 CLR 387.
  2. ^ Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd v The King [1912] HCA 58, (1912) 15 CLR 65.
  3. ^ Australian Industries Preservation Act 1906 (Cth).
  4. ^ "Coal vend case: an official threat to purchase against vend: the Newcastle conversation". Sydney Morning Herald. Trove. 6 May 1911. Retrieved 10 July 2018.