Refrigerated Express Lines (A/Asia) Pty Ltd v Australian Meat and Live-Stock Corporation

Case

[1979] FCA 128

29 Nov 1979

No judgment structure available for this case.

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY

GENERAL DIVISION

No.

of

A c t l o n G67 01 1979

TITLE OF ACTION

REFRIGERATED EXPRESS LIivFS (A/ASIA) PTY. LIhIITED

v . AUSTRALIAN MEAT AND LIVE-STOCK CORPORATION

& ORS.

D a t e ( s )

of

Hearing

2 3 . 1 1 . 7 9 ,

2 9 . 1 1 . 7 9

Judgment

2 9 . 1 1 . 7 9

Counse l

and

A .

Rogers QC.

S o l i c l t o r s f o r

K .

Mason

APPLICANT

D.

O f f l c e r I n s t r u c t e d by

S l y &

R u s s e l l ,

68 P l t t S t r e e t ,

Sydney

Counse l

and

G . G .

MasteI-nlan

Q . C

7

lst

&

7 t h ~

~

~

~

~

,

~

d

~

~

t

~

S o l ~ c l t o r s

f o r

J .

McLaugh l~

n

)

RESPONDENTS

i n s t r u c t e d by

Duggan

& Dnylc ,

66 King

S t r e e t

Sydney

A . M .

Gleeson Q.C. ,

)

2nd and 8 t h Respondent

J . R . T .

Il'ood

1

I n s t r u c t e d by

Cbsworth

& E b s a o r t h ,

2

C a s t l e r e a g h

S t r e e t ,

Sydncy

L . J '

prlestley

) 3 r d

9th Rcspondcnts

P .

I ie ly

)

i n s t r u c t e d by

Vbsworth

& Ehsivorth

2

C a s t l e r e a g h

S t r e e t ,

Sydney

J ' M ' N '

" l fe

Q ' c ' ,

)

4 t h ,

5 t h ,

l o t h ,

1 1 t h

W . W .

C a l d a e l l

)

l i e sponden t s

I n s t r u c t e d by

N l c h o l l

&

N l c h o l l ,

9

B l l g h

S t r e e t , Sydney

K ' H '

)

Gth

and

1 3 t n Respondca t

D.E.

C lav ton

)

i n s t r u c t e d

by

A I l e n A I l e n

&

I I c r n s l c ~ ~ .

1 9 M a r t l n

P l a c c ,

Sydney

CATCIIWORDS

Discovery

and

l n t e r r o g a t o r l e s -

a c t l o n i o r r e d r e s s of

c l v l l

I n j u r y b a s e d on

a l l e g e d contravention

of

Act

-

whethe r

d e f e n d a n t s

s h o u l d

b e

c x c u s c d

i n

l l m l n e

f rom

d i s c o v e r y

o r

answering

l n t e r r o g a t o r l e s o r l e f t t o o b j e c t

t o producing

particular

documents

o r a n s a e r l n g

p a r t l c u l n r

q u c s t l o n s .

F l l e No.

G67 o r 1979

REFRIGERATED EXPRESS

L I N E S

( B I A S I A )

PTY.

L Ih l ITCD V.

AL'STRAI I . lN

MEAT AND LIVE-STOCK CORPORATION & ORS.

Judgment :

2 9 . 1 1 . 7 9

i n Sydney

-

I N TIIE FEDERAL COURT

O F A U S T R A L I A

) )

NEW

SOUTH WA1,ES

D I S T R I C T R E G I S T R Y

)

No.

G67 of

1979

)

GENERAL

D I V I S I O N

)

REFI i IGERATCD

C X P R C S S

L I K E S

(BIASTA)

PTP

--

L I M I T E D

A p p l l cant

AUSTRALIAN

hlCAT

ASD

L I V E - S T O C K

COR1'ORiITIO;<

-

.-

First

R e s p o n d e n t

A S S O C I A T E D

C O N T A I h T H

TRASSPORTATTON

( A U S T R A L I d )

I,I!.!ITED

Second

l ? ~ s p i ~ n d e u t

AUSTlIALIAN

S H I P P I N G

CO!I',IISSIO?;

( I ' H ~ I D I S G >S

-

h

AUSTIiALIAK

;<AT IOKAL

L I Z E )

T h i r d R c s p o l ~ d c n t

F o u r t h

R p s l ' l c . ~ ~ d ~ n t

P A R R E L L

L I K E S

I K C .

P l f t h R a s p o n d e n t

THADl,.tl

NAVIGAT1O:J

CO

LIt.lITE1)

( ' i ' l i ~ \ l ~ l ~ l ( . ;

,IS

ATLAN'I'THAFlK

E \ P H E S S

SLHVI Cl . )

S l s t h R e s p o n d c . n t

ROY

GEOFFRICY

J O N F S

SF~VCII

Lh Re.S]~olltlen

t

CHRTSTOPIIER CULLLN

X 1 g i 1 t h

R e s p c 1 n t l ( - 1 i i

N I G E L

TULLOH

N m t h

R e s p o n c l c n t

H O R S T

GALTCR

RI1.K

T c n t h

R e s l ) o n c l c n t

EDGAR ALRERT 6NGXLHARDT

E

l c v e n t h Rc::],nlltlcn

PETER SHJllilLER

T w e l f t h

Respondent

CORAM.

Deane J .

Thursday 29 November,

1979 .

REASONS

FOR

JIJDGMENT

I n

t h e s e

p r o c e c d l n g s ,

t h c

a p p l l c a n t

s e e k s

i n j u n c t ~ \ . c

r e l l e f

and

damages

a g a l n s t

S I X

c o r p o r a t e

r e s p o n d c ~ n t s

and s1.s

p e r s o n a l

r e s p o n d e n t s

The

p r o c e c d l n g s

a r e

bast,cl

on

a l l e g e d

c o n t r a v e n t l o n

and

invo lvemen t

I n

c o n t r a v e n t l o n

of

t h e

l>rovl . s ions

oi

P a r t I V of

t h e T r a d e Practices Act

1974 ("Lhc

Act") .

An

l s s u e h a s a r l s e n between

t h c a p p l l c a n t

and

t h e

r e s p o n d e n t s

a s

t o whe the r

t h e r e s p o n d e n t s

shou l cl

be

,?>-cusc d

i n l i m i n c

f rom g l v l n g discovery

o f

docunicnts ;:nd

f ~ o i n

r~lisrnc~r1ng

i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s .

The

f a c t

t h a t t h e a c t i o n is

a n

u r g e n t

o n e x h l c h

h a s bccn

l l s t e d f o r

f l n a l h e a r l n g

on

1 2 l c c b ~ u a r y 1980 mxkcs

I L

desirable

t h a t

I

g l v e my

d e c l s l o n on

t h e s e p r o c e d u r a l

n ~ a t i c r r ;

forthwith.

I

a m conscious of

t h c f a c t t h n t I

s h a l l . ,

i n t h c

r e s u l t ,

do less t h a n j u s t i c e t o t h e sub:n:sslons

oT

c o u n s e l \\l10

have

a r g u e d

t h e q u c s t l o n s

b e f o r e mo.

The

r e s p o n d e n t s

c l a m

t h n t

t h e y

s h o u l d be

e s c u s r d ,

g e n e r a l l y

and

i);

l i m i n c ,

i rom

d i s c o v e r y

and

p roduc Llnn

of

documents

and

a n s w c r l n g

interrogatories.

I n

s u l ~ p o r t

v j

Lh. l i

c l a m ,

t h e y p o i n t

t o t h e S u b j e c t matter

01 t h e p r o c e c d l n g s

and

r e l y upon

t h e p r l n c l p l e

t h a t a

p a r t y

t o l l t l g a t l o n ough t

n o t

t o be

compe l l ed

t o p r o v i d e

e v i d e n c e

a g a l n s t

h l m s e l f

v:hlch

may

be u s e d t o expose hlm

t o a

p e n a l t y .

S e c t l o n

78

of

t h e A c t p r o v t d e s

t h a t

c r l m l n a l p roceed-

i n g s

do

n o t

l i e a g a i n s t

a

p e r s o n

by

r e a s o n

o n l y

t h a t t h e p e r s o n

h a s

c o n t r a v e n e d

o r been

I n v o l v e d

i n

a

c o n t r a r c n t l o n

of

P a r t

;V

of

t h e Act.

S e c t l o n

76

o f

t h e A c t p r o v l d e s

t h a t ,

i h c C o u r t

is

s a t l s f l e d t h a t

a

p e r s o n

h a s

c o n t r a v e n e d ,

o r h a s

a t t c m p t c d

t o c o n t r a v e n e ,

o r h a s

been

l n v o l v e d

i n s p c c l f l c d u a y s

i n

c o n t r a v e n t l o n o f , P a r t

IV of

t h e Act,

t h c Cour t

m a y

o r d e r

t h e

p e r s o n

t o pay

t o t h c CommoL~tvealth

s u c h pecuniary

p c n n l i ~

( n o t

exceeding,

i n r e s p e c t

o f

e a c h

a c t

o r o m l s s l o n ,

$ 5 0 , 0 0 0

i n t l ~ c x

c a s c o f

a

p e r s o n

n o t b e ~ n g

a body

corporate

and

$ 2 5 0 . 0 0 0 i n

t h c c a s c o r x

body

c o r p o r a t e )

as t l lc

Cour t

d e t e r ~ l n e s

t o h e

appropriate

h a v l n g r e g a r d t o r e l e u a n t matters.

By

s .77

of

t h e

Ac t ,

p r o c e e d l n g s

f o r

t h e

r c c o v e r y

of

p e c u n l n r g

p c n a l t l c ; . ~

nla::

be

I n s t i t u t e d by

t h c h l in l s t er

o r

t h e

T r a d e

P r a c t l c c s

C o r ~ ~ r n ~ s s

I on

w i t h l n

s l x y e a r s

a f t e r

t h e

r e l e v a n t

c o n t r a v r n i l o n .

The

p r e s e n t

p r o c e e d i n g s

do

r ~ o t

involve

any

a l l e g a t ' o v

of

c r i ~ n l n a l

conduc t

a g a ~ n s t

tlic

r e s p u n d e n t s

Nor

a r e

Lhcy

p r o c e e d l n g s

f o r

t h e r c c o v r r y

of

a

p e c u n l n r y

p e p ~ ~ l t y .

They

a r e proceedings

t o p r e v e n t

and

r e d r e s s

a l l c > g e d c l v l l

in.]ury.

A s h a 5 been

men t loncd

h o u c v c r ,

the,

h a s l s o r

t h e p r e s c n t

proc<-,dd

l n g s

is

a l l e g e d

c o n t r a v e n t l o n

and

i n v o l v r m c n t

i n c o n t ~ ~ i v e n t l o n

of

t h e p r o v l s l o n s

o f

P a r t

I V o l

t h c Ac t .

The

a p p l ~ c s n t will

o n l y

h e

e n t l t l e d

t o s u c c e e d

i n t h e p r o c e e d i n g s

i f

i t

e s t ab11s ! l~ , s

a g a l n s t

o n e

o r more

o f

t h e

r e s p o n d e n t s

s u c h

c o n t r n v c n t l o n

or

s u c h

invo lvemen t .

I n

t h a t

s e n s e ,

t h e p r o c e e d i n g s

a r e ,

i n t h e 3 r

e n t i r e t y ,

aimed

a t e s t a b l l s h l n g a g a i n s t

t h e r e s p o n d e n t s ,

c o n d u c t

which would make them l i a b l e t o t h e imposition o r :%

p e n a l t y

p u r s u a n t

t o s . 7 6 of

t h e A c t

i n p r o c c e d l n g s

b r o u g h t

a t t h e s u l t

o f

t h e h l i n l s t e r

o r t h e T r a d e Practices

Cornmlsslon.

I t

is a

w e l l e s t a b l l s l i cd principle

t h a t

a

dc rendan t

i n p r o c e e d l n g s

which

a r e s o l e l y f o r

t h e r e c o v e r y

01

a

p e c u n l n r p

p e n a l t y

s h o u l d

n o t

be

o r d e r e d t o d ~ s c l o s r

1nform:i t lon

o r

p r o d u c c

documents which may

asslst i n e s t s b l l s h l n g h

~

1 1 3 b 1 1 1 t y t c r

s

i h e

p e n a l t y

( s e e ,

g e n e r a l l y ,

p e r

I S ~ R C S

J

I

_

R .

V .

~ I ~ ~ o c ~ : i l c + r l

I < u r l - I ~ ( . r ~

C o l l l c r i e s (1910) 11 C.L.R.

738 a t pp .

741-748,

SLils:~ll t!~

V

hlcGovcrn (1953) 9 0 C.L.R.

336 a t pp .

341-342,

Mar1111 v .

T r e a c h e r

(1886)

l 6 Q . B . D .

5 0 7 ) .

Even

\$here, as

i n t l ~ c

prcsc,:lt-

c a s e ,

t h e p r o c e e d l n g s

a r e n o t

f o r r e c o v e r y

o l

a

p c n a l r q

b u t

t o p r c v e n t

and r e d r e s s c l v l l

i n j u r y ,

a

p a r t y

t o 1111gaz1on

ough t

n o t

t o b e

compe l l ed

t o provlclc

l n f o r m a t l o n

o r p roduce

documents

f o r

l n s p e c t l o n by

t h e o t h e r pa l ' tg

i f

l.ht, r c s u l t

l ! ~ ? r c ~ -

c s t a b l l s h h i s l i a b i l i t y t o a

pena l t y

i n o t h e r procc-edln:,'s

(Dr.1-b\

.-

Corporation v

Derbyshire County Council

[ IS? ) ; ]

)\.C

5 5 0 i t

--

p .

5 5 2 ) .

I n t h e fo rmer c a s e ,

t h n l 1s

t o s a y l n 3 mcrc:

action

f o r a

p e n a l t y ,

a

c o u r t

s h o u l d ,

i n t h e

a b s e n c e

of

s t a t u t , o r y

p r o v l s l o n

t o t h e c o n t r a r y , r e J u s e

t o make

any

ordr-.r

a t a l l

,~&:a lnr i

t h e d e f e n d a n t

l o r discovery

o r product1011

of

documents o r p r n -

v l s l o n o f

information

f o r t h e r c n s o n

t h a t

t h e \+hol.c a n d avoucd

o b j e c t

o f

t h e p r o c e ~ d i

n g s

bein(:

'he

i m p o s l t i o n

: ~ n d 1 !]c recovr , r$

of

a

p e n a l t y ,

a n o r d e r

f o r t h e production

of

d ( ~ c ~ ~ l n c , n t s

o r

p r o v i s l o n

of

i n f o r m a t i o n

a g a i n s t

t h e d e f e n d a n t

c a n ,

s o f a r a s

t h e p r o s e c u t o r

o f

t h e

a c t i o n

is

c o n c e r n c d ,

p r o p e r l v

have

no

o t h e r

l n t e n d e d

consequence

(see -

R .

v .

Associ.ated

N o r t h e r n

Collieries,

s u p r a ,

a t p .

7 4 2 ) .

T h i s is

a

b r o a d

and u n q u a l l l l e d

r u l e whose

o r l g l n s a r e a p p a r e n t l y

t o b e

found

i n a

r e l u c t a n c e

on

t h e p a r t o f

t h e Cour t

o f

Chancery

t o l e n d t h e a i d of

i t s

discovery

proceedings

t o t h e common

i n f o r m e r

( s e c >!esborouj:h

( E a r l o f ) v .

Whitwood

Urban

D i s t r i c t

C o u n c i l

(1697)

1 2 Q

13.

111 a t p . 1 1 5 ,

IIeimann v . Thc Commonwealth (1935) 6.1 C.I,.R.

126 a t p .

130).

I n t h e l a t t e r c a s e ,

t h a t

i s

i n a

c a s e s u c h a s t h e

p r e s e n t

where

t h e p r o c r e d l n g s

a r c n o t

f o r

t h e r c c o r e r y

01

a

p e n a l t y ,

t h e r e

i s no

g e n e r a l r u l e precluding

t h e mnklng

o f

3 n

o r d e r

f o r d i s c o v e r y

or

~ n t e r r o g a t o r i e s

and

t h e r c n 1 1 1 o r d ~ n a r l l v

b e no p r o p c r

g round

f o r o b j e c t i n g t o a n

o r d o r

f o r produc:tlon

o f

documcnts

o r p r o v i s l o n

01 in fo r r . ' a t l on

b e l n g made.

The

parl .?

against

whom

s u c h a n o r d e r is made

1.s

l e f t t o ob.jctct

t o p r o d ~ l c -

l n g particular

documcnts o r p r o c i d ~ n g

p a r l i c u l a r

~ n f o r t n n t l o n

on

t h e g round

t h a t

s u c h production

o r p r o v l s l o n may

t c n d

t o

expose hlm

t o a

p e n a l t y .

( S e e hlayor

o r t 1 1 ~

County I?orouy:h o r

--

Derby

v

D e r b y s h i r e

County

C o u n c l l ,

s u p r a a t p .

553).

I n Spokes v . -

G r o s v ~ n o r

I I o t e l

Conipatlv

--

( [ l 5 9 7 1

2

( 2 . R .

1-31)

t h e U n i t c d Klngdom

Cour t

o f

Appeal

(Lord E-her

M . R . ,

L i n d l c y

and

C111 t t y L . J J . )

h c l d

t h a t

a n

o l > j e c t l o n b y

a

d e f e n d a n t

t h a t

t h e d l s c o v c r y o f

documents may

t e n d t o incriminate

hlm

cnn o n l y

be

t a k e n

w i t h

t h e p r o d u c t i o n

of

t h e

documents

a l l cgcc l

t o

hnv~ ->

t h a t

e f f e c t

and

n o t

t o t h e o r d e r

f o r d l s c o v c r y

I n

t h c

c o u r s i

-6-

of hls judgment Lord Esher, M.R., sald (at p. 132)

" I t h i n k we

a r c

bound

by

t h e au thc~>?: t : l

o f

. f7 ii:?..zc:: t3.

Labouchere

( J

a . B.1 ) .

C 5 4 1

t o s a y

t 4 a t

L;:,- rl:rc,-ri,o,:

may

b e p u t .

I n

Lhat

c a s e ,

Jamcs

5 . J . s,::;s

( Z G . : ' . ? .

a t p.

660):

"Nobody was ~ V C P

uZZ,-w,>,:'

t o c : . ;~>c: :

L L

G

reZeva?z t

q u e s t i o n 5 a c a u s z

t h a t

qz,zs L i c

~1

~ o ; ! d c L t o

c r i m i n a t e

h i m s c i l f .

He

mzt;ht

ob,:?d:

t o a-r.:;>rrd i t , :<:!l

i t was

n e v z r

a

9round

c]'

J cmi ! r r ' c~ t? a71 Z. ,!tt-.r)'?i..iL~.

f 1 7 ,

.

*

3

01,

a

ground

f o r

s t r i k i n g

i t c u t ,

t i i , : t

?hc

~ i ) ! . i ~ , . 2 ' ~ " i $ , : i

i n v o Z v e

hzm

i x a

c r i m z .

. . .

Of

C J ~ ~ I ' . : , ;

izc

- : ~ z r i r : r . 3 7

, L

. .

o b l i g e d

t o answer

sue?

qut?:;ti,lr:,?,

! , : l :

rhe

c;!c: .~,~?, . . -

1

were

p u t ,

and co:rZd

n o t 5c c . l j rc:c; '

t..."

!>!

o;?/.

judgment

I

s a i d

( 5 6 . B . D .

a $ p .

6 t i l ) :

" I t : { ! : ~

L ; !<LL

d e c i s i c i z

( F i s h c r

v .

C

;

( S C . . :G511 l o ;JJ 2knL

.

-

where

i n t s ~ ~ r ~ o p a t o r i s c

arBL r e l o i ) a l : t ,

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Chitty L.J., bid, at pp. 133-134) commented

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To the same effect was t h c d e c i s ~ o n

o1 thc Jlo~lsi: 01

Lords

i n N a t l o n a l

A s s o c l a t l o n o f

Operative

P l a s t c ~ e r s

v -

Sr ; i i th les

( [ l 9 0 6 1

A . C . . 4 3 4 ) where

it

was

h e l d

t h a t ,

i n a n

ac: t lon

f o r

damages

where

t h e f a c t s a l l e g e d amounted

t o a

c r l m l n a l

c o n s p i r d c y ,

t h e d e f e n d a n t

c o u l d

n o t

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t o

d i s c o v c r

t h e m : ~ t c r i a J d o c u m e ~ i l s

on

t h e g round

t h a t t h e y may

t e n d t o i n c r u n i n a t c h ~ m . Lord

hlacnaghton

d e a l t w i t h

t h e

d e l e n d a n t s

s u b m l s s l o n

i n pe rempto ry

l a n g u a g e

( i b i d

a t

p .

4 3 7 ) :

" I t h i n k

t i ic

Law

i s Znid

d :>~ ,n ,

ar-J

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: 7 1 1 ~ ~ . 3 1 5 ? . - '

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C o u r t

o f

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z s

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F:.,',

F ~ i c ' l .

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s a y s t h e r e i s :

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o f

t h e

C o u r t o f CI:aiiccr,i,

a,:,!

t i : a t :r? ' ." ,<:t .~ 'r

i s ;:L>:.,,

u?!der t h e i c t o f

LF73,

s . 25,

sxL--;;.

? J ,

- , ? : f ? , , ~ : d ! ,

t h a t i t i s no

o h j e e : i ~ r . t o cr:

S?rtdrroyat.ir;l

,;:,<

ground

f o r

t a k i n g

Lhc

i n t d l , r o p n t ~ r > y

<,/J'

t r : i j': l',

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r e l e v a n t ,

t h a t t ; ; e ariswsi9 r.in;:l

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c: : , ,

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t h e answej, Tay

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t o r ~ , i r i i : n l e

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p - . . . . :

7       .

t a k e

t k d

o ! > j c d t i o ? i

0.:

11-c r a : ; : , cr.?

i!'

i : ,!cp;::

P;-:;..

t h a t o , F j e c t i o n on

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t h i s

p~rr t ; ' c z i7n i~

c u s t

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i.2

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9

a i o r y

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t o

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.L.

a, : S

r n e r d y

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t o Lhd

m ~ l t L i r , f s7i

~ h c ' t

: ! c r . ,

c;,.d

,:-

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argued

t h a t he

i s d i : ! ; i tLeJ t n F,;;!;;,

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i - 2 . r ~ r r

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L , : ~ I - Z ~ , < ,

TT:-

r e " .

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aizswer

i n :.;>

OI) - ' ? :~L)T :

L::

. 7 5 : . ~ 1 ' ; " .

Lord James

o f

H e r e f o r d u s e d

ldngungr

n h ~ c h

!\as

o n l )

m a r g i n a l l y

less s t r o n g ( ~ b l d ,

a t pp .

437-8)

I1

. *

Thc

argumcr?

d:.

+;is: E ( i r ,

,L

j

U , , - .,!

L;>,:J:,

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p o s z t i o n

o f

n h s u r d i r . / .

V:?

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2 , .

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a c t i n n cu;7(1hLa o f ; I C V < ~ ~

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a::yz,..'

may

p r e s e n t

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t h e r ~ f ~ , r a

I

in

i ' i : i i t ; lcr? ):L)!

t o answer

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d i s c o v d r y " .

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ail

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t h l s

t h e r e

s h o u l d

b e

an

e x t z r e Z g

x e ~ )

i j C , ~ c ! - i ' , :

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d i s c o v e r y ,

w i t h o u t good

cauori

;or

i t ,

l

c;>t

i . 110~ .

I n

t h e i n s t a n c e s

g i v a n

t h c

r e a s o n

~ : i l : .

C ~ u r t c

0;'

f i q7 , ! i t y

would

n o t

r e l i e v e i n a c t i o x s o f

for ; ' (>i txr>c

tr,zd

r.:,!22 L -

i e s was

n o t made

v e r y

c l e a r aL

f h c 3 u r ,

b x r 2

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suppose i t u a s t h i s ,

Lhat

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c'our:;

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t h a t

i tutu~,o. ~ L , L I ' J b ~ . i ' ~ : : J ; t

rit

a l l

t h a t t h e y zozcld

izot

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d i s c o v d r y

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I

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3 z c l

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t h e a c t i o n we

a r e

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no

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o b j e c t i o i i

c a n pos s ibZ>

t c f o u ~ ~ d . lf

ti:,.:;

n ~ ~ g i ~ r ~ i c i i t

were

a c t e d

up072

t h e i r r ~ u r z i t y

J120r1 ~ ~ C P O > Z I , I !

I J ~ , ~ ! , , :

;,c:

i n f i n i t e l y f u r t h e r ,

a s Llas

pi)Li,Lc?d o:i:

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c~.7:i,.-,?

o f t h c a rgumen t ,

t h a v 2::

acL-or~CcL?

G-)

a

, ; . i , ;>: ( , s~ .

2-2

a w i t i ~ e s s

sa!ys,

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:-o ci>:ni.l<.?' ?;: l ; .

, ; : ~ ~ ~ : . t ; ~ i :

b e c a u s e

i t L I O U Z ~ te ' ld

t o crim7i;.rtd

rnC?,''

1 , -

,?:L::;

):S

!-

. .

e s c a p e

by

s o

suyzng

u ~ i 2 ~ j . s

; Z J

C.IE

s , : ; i : . ; , ~

:-hi

C.):: I , ;

t h a t

t h e r e

i s i . easonai .2~ gri.uiL,l fc,'

?:I,. r,! , . , ; L * :

( , -.

b e i n g made.

Here

a27

t h a ;

the

Jof~i:~r'rr; .:

- ,-

r ~ s i : ~ . :

i.,

- -

do i s t o make a ctat?me:iiL aizr! .:ay,

"lm;:lb W ? . : :

! :>

!

12

cr-lrninate me

i f I

g i v e nil al;,-,'el.".

c

I

L : ; , ! ; I

, .

s t a t e m e n t t h e Cour t : : i i l hdve f,o

<!.-c? 2:srtl

;,.c

,;l::;;?2

;,

g i v e n .

But

Lhe

ar$2cmr?i:t go:>;

F : . c ~

f:mi;:ci '

T ; : ~ L P ~

and r s t i z s zc;~oiz t h e i z ~ t u r ~ i

S J : j r d

:r"ztor. I t s ; ! j

:

,

:

L

g i v i n g immzoii i2 from

mukind

~ 7 i i

~ 7 : . : : ( , - 1 3 " .

,

These

s t r o n g l y worded

s t a t c m c r , t s

p l a l n l y

c. . i ; tabllsh

t h e g e n e r a l

r u l e

t h a t

a

p a r t y

t o p r o c c e d l n g s

i~ , l i l c i~

arc:

f o r

c l v l l r e d r e s s and

n o t

f o r a

p e n a l t y

ough t

n o t

u r d l n s r l l y

br

e x c u s e d ,

i n Zimivic,

Irom

g l v i n y

d ~ s c o v c r y

o r

ansi l .or lng

In t c , c rog -

a t o r l c s b u t

s h o u l d

be

l e f t t o o b j e c t

t o producing

p u r t l . c u l n t

documents o r answering particular

q u c s t l o n s 011

t h e ty'nliud

~ l i : ~

t

s u c h

p r o d u c t ~ o n

o r answer migh t t e n d l o expose 1111~

t o 1131>11

t o a p e n a l t y ( s e e a l s o Egg and E K ~

P

u

l

p

--

hli~rk-ling

-

Eonrd

.-

v .

l i

--

11 .

-

Korp

Tocumnl

T r a d l n g Co

P t y .

L l m l t c d

-

8 A n c ~ r . 11 965:

V . R .

37s

--

a t

pp .

379-381,

C a s t l c m a l ~ y

P e r h x n s

L l m I

l ud

-

v .

Qucf?n

S L ? ' c e l

-

--

H o t e l s L l m l t e d

(No.

2)

(1969)

G3 Q . D L.R

397 :~t

pp 399-3403.

Tha t

g e n e r a l

approach

i s n o t

however,

a s a

m a t t e r

o f

l aw ,

necessarily

appropriate

t o a l l c l r c u l n s t n n c e s

(scae

p e r

L l n d l e y

L . J . ,

M a r t l n

v .

T r e a c h e r ,

s u p r a ,

a t p .

l

R

v .

--

dsboc l a ~ c t l

--

N o r t h e r r

C o l l l e r l e s ,

s u p r a ,

a t pp .

742-743) .

I C

c ~rcunl- t : in~.(~. l ;

a r o s e where

t h e o n l y means

o f

p r o t e c t i n g

t h e r i g h t

against

self-incrimination

and

s e l f - p e n a l l z a t l o n i w r e

t n e x c u s e

a

p a r t y

i n Zimine

f rom

d i s c o v e r y

o r i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s ,

s u c h

c i r c u m s t a n c e s

s h o u l d ,

i n my

v iew,

b e

s e e n

as

c x c e p t l o n a l

and

a s j u s t i f y l n p

a

d e p a r t u r e f rom t h e g e n e r a l

r u l e .

I n p a r t i c u l a r ,

i f

~t a p l x a r e d

t o t h e c o u r t t h a t t h e maklng

of

a n a f f i d a v i t o r d ~ s c o v e r y

a s

d i s t i n c t

f rom

p r o d u c i n g

t h e documents

r e f e r r e d

t o i n s u c h

a n

affidavit

would

t e n d t o e s p o s e a

p a r t y t o a

p e n a l t y ,

any

o r d c r

f o r

d i s c o v e r y

s h o u l d

be

a d j u s t e d

t o t h e

e x t e n t

n c c c s s a r y

t o

p r e c l u d e

t h a t

t e n d e n c y

I t ~ s , p e r h n p s ,

c o n c e i v a b l c

t h a t

c l rcum-

s t a n c e s c o u l d

a r l s c u h e r e t h e merc

making

o f

an

o r d c r

Tor

interrogatories

mlgh t

have

a

s i n i l l a r

t e n d e n c y .

Thc

c a s e s a b u r e

t h e maklng

o f

a n o r d e r

f o r

d l s c o r e r g o r l n t e r r o g n t o r ~ e s

a l l ] ,

~ n

i t s e l f ,

l n v o l v c

e x p o s l n g

a

p a r t y

t o s c l f - l n c r ~ m l n a t l o n o r

s c x i r -

penalization

m u s t ,

however,

b e r a r e I n d e e d i n v1 rw o f

tllr

1 nci.

t h a t t i l e p a r t y w i l l r ema ln

e n t l t l e d t o r c f u s c t o answer

question\

a s k e d

o r p r o d u c e

documents

d i s c o r e r c d

i f

t h e

a n s w e r s

o r

p r u d ~ . c i -

i o n

mlgllt

t e n d

t o i n c r i m ~ n a t c .

him

o r e s p o s c him

t o a

p e n n l t j .

I t was

submitted

on

b e h a l f

o f

t h e r e s p o n d e n t s t h a t

a

g e n e r a l

o r d e r

e x c u s i n g

t h e r e s p o n d e n t s

i?: Zz'rl;:.nc

rrom

discovery

of

docuinents

o r a n s w e r i n g

i n t e r r o g a t o r l c s

w a s

j u s L i f l e d

i n i h e

p r e s e n t matter

f o r t h e r e a s o n t h a t t h e whole

b a s ~ s

o f

t h e p r c s r n t

a c t i o n

f o r

injunctive

r e l l e f

and

dan~ages w a s a l l e g e d

c o n t r a v r n t l o n

and

l n v o l v e m r n t

i n c o n t r a v e n t i o n of

t h e p r o v i s l n n s

of

par^

I t

of

t h e A c t .

I n

t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s ,

~t u n s

s n l d ,

t h e o n l y

p u r p o s e

o f

discovery

o r

l n t e r r o g a t o r l e s

a o u l d

be

t o p r n v ~ d c >

e v l d c n c e

which

would

t e n d

t o r s t a b l l s h t l l c =

a l l c g e d con trarc?n 1.1

on

and

lnvo lvemcn t

i n contravention

o f

t h c A c t w h i c h ,

li

r s t a b l i s h r d ,

would

i n e v i t a b l y

t e n d

t o r e n d e r

t h c r e s p o n d e n t s

l l a b l c t o a

p e n a l t y

a t

t h e

s u i t o f

t h e M i n l b t e r

o r t h c T r a d e P r a c t i c e s

Cornmisslon.

I t f o l l o w e d ,

it

was

s a l d ,

t h a t t h e o r d i n a r y approach

appropriate

t o p r o c e e d i n g s

o t h e r

t h a n proceedings

f o r a

p e n a l t y

s h o u l d

n o t

b e

f o l l o w e d

and

t h e

r e s p o n d e n t s

s h o u l d

b e

g r a n t e d

t h e g e n e r a l

immunlty

from discovering

documents o r a n s u e r l n g

i n t e r r o g a t o r l e s

t o which

t h c y would

b e e n t ~ t l e d

i n p r o c e e d ~ n g s

f o r a

p e n a l t y .

Whlle

I

can

s e e g r e a t f o r c e i n t h e r e s p o n d c n i s '

argument.

I

am

u n a b l e

t o a c c e p t

i t .

I n my

v i e w ,

t h e o n l y

c l r c u m s t a n c p s

which

would w a r r a n t

a

d e p a r t u r e

i n t h e p r e s e n t

c a s e Trom

t h c

o r d i n a r y approach

t h a t a

p a r t y

s h o u l d be

l e t t t o O b j e c t

t o

p r o d u c t i o n

o f

p a r t l c u l n r

documents

o r

t o ansmer lng

p x r t l c u l a r

interrogatories

would

bc

t h a t

i t

a p p e a r e d

t h a t

t h c a c t u a l

discovery,

a s d l s t i n c t f rom production

f o r i n s p e c t i o n ,

o f

doca-

rnen t s

o r t h c a c t u a l o r d e r

Tor

i n t c b r r o g a t o r i e s would

tend

t o uxpos.?

t h e

p a r t y

o r d e r e d

t o make

d i s c o v c r y

o r a n s z c r

i n t e r i - o j i a t o r ~ c s

t o liability

Lo

a p e n a l t y .

N o t a i t h s t a n d l n g t h e argument

t o

t h e c o n t r a r y

advanced

on

b c h a l 1 o l

t h c . r c s l ) o n d e n t s ,

I

arli

unable.

t o sce

t h a t e i t h e r a n 0rdc.r

j o r

d i s c o v e r y o r a n o r d e r f o r

i n t e r r o g a t o r l e s ~ o u l d ,

i n t h e p r e s c ~ n t c a s e ,

I n

I t s e l f

have

o?,

be

d i r e c t l y

p r o d u c t ~ v e

of

t h a t e f l e c t .

I n

t h o s c

c ~ r c u m s t a n c e s ,

I c o n s i d e r s h o u l d b e

t h e o r d i n a r y

approach

s h o u l d a p p l y

and

t h e rcspondcnt: .

i c f t

to

o b j e c t

t o p r o d u c i n g

p a r t i c u l a r

documents

o r

a n s w c r l n g

p a r t i c u l a r

i n l c r r o g a t o r i e s .

I

s h o u l d ,

p c r h a p s ,

add

t h a t i f , i n r e l a t i o n

t o ;iny

p a r t ~ c i i l a r

document

o f

w i ~ i c h

d i s c o v c r y

i s

r c c l u ~ r e d

by

a

r c ~ s p o n d ~ ~ : i t

t h e v iew

is t a k e n

t h a t t o d e s c r i b e

l t

by

r e f e r e n c e t o iLs

n a t u r e

o r

c o n t e n t s would

t e n d

t o r e n d e r

t h a t

r c s p o n d c n t

l i a b l e t o a

p e n a l t y ,

t h a t

c i r c u m s t a n c e

i n i t s e l f

would

j u s t l f y

l e s s p r e c i s l u n

i n t h e d e s c r i p t i o n

o f

t h e document

t h a n

would

o t h e r w l s e b e

a p p r o p r i a t e .

I n

c i r c u m s t a n c e s

where

l a c k o f

precision

01

d e s c r i p t i o n would

n o t ,

i n t h e v i e w o f

t h e p a r t l c u l a r r c s p o n d c n t ,

s u f f i c e t o a v o l d a

t endency

t o e s p o s e

t o a

p e n a l t y ,

a n a p p l i c a t -

Ion

t o rnodlfy

t h e o r d e r

f o r d l s c o v c r y

c o u l d of

c o u r s e b e ~ n a d e

t o

t h e

C o u r t .

I

would a l s o add t h a t t h e l a c t t h a t t h e whole b a s ~ s

o f

t h e p r e s e n t

p r o c e e d l n g s

1s

a l l e g e d

c o n t r a v e n t ~ o n

and

involvement

i n contravention o f

t h e provisions

of

P a r t I V of

t h e A c t w i l l ,

i n my

v i e w , b e r e l e v a n t

i f and ahcn

t h e Cour t

comes

t o r u l e upon

any

d l s p a t c d I s s u e s b e t s e e n

t h e p a r t l e s as

t o whe the r

t h e p r o d u c t i o n

f o r

l n s p e c t l o n

of

p a r t i c u l n r

doc:blnr~lL\

s h o u l d

be

o r d c r c d

o r

t h e

a n s w e r i n g

01 p s r t l c u l a r

J nl .c:r~-ogniorl

rs

s h o u l d b e

e n f o r c e d .

I n o t h c r w o r d s ,

it

5cerns

t o mu,

a s :]L

p r e s e n t

a d v l s e d ,

t h a t

i n p r o c c c d l n g s where

t h e w h O l ~

b a s i s of

t h e a c t l o n

is

a l l e g c d

c o n t r a v c n t l o n

o f

an

A c t p u n i s h a b l e

IIV

a

p e n a l t y ,

t h e p a r t y

a g a i n s t whom

t h e p r o c e e d l n g s

a r c broughl

w l l l have n

l i g h t e r onus

i n p c r s u s d i n g t h e Cour t

t h ~ r

t l i c

p r o -

d u c t i o n

cf

p a r t l c u l a r

documents

or

t h e

a n s N e r l n g

o f

p n r t i c u l . ? r

i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s may

t e n d t o expose h ~ m

t o a

p e n a l t y

t h a n

u c u l d

o t h e r w l s e be

t h e case.

F l n a l l y ,

I

s h o u l d mcn t ion

t h a i

i t w a s s111~rnl t tcd

on

b e h a l f

o f

t h e

r e s p o n d e n t s

t h a t

t h e p r c s r n t

proceedings

w e r e

a k i n

t o p r o c e e d i n g s

f o r t h e r e c o v e r y

o l

a

p e n a l t y

i o r t h e

r e a s o n

t h a t

t h e Cour t

c o u l d

Impose

p c n n l t l e s p u r s u n n t

t o 5 . 7 6

of the Act in the event that any of the alleged contraventions

or involvement in contravention of the Act be established. I

do not agreeMwlth that submission. In my view, penaltics

pursuant to s.76 of the Act can only be Imposed by thc Court

in proccedlngs by the Allnlster or the Comn~lssion pursuant to

s . 7 7 .

In the result, I do not propose to make ordc-rs pur:.uant

to Ordcr 15 Rule 3(1) or Order 16 Rule 3(1) grantlng the

respondents immunity in ZZmine from dlscovcry or ~ntt+rrogato~

L L - S

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