Copies of correspondence of Matheson & Co. Ltd, and related letters and papers, regarding legal action against the Australia & New Zealand/Eastern Shipping Conference in relation to charges of restraint of trade. The case originated with an action brought by the Australian Attorney-General B.M. Snedden under the Australian Industries Preservation Act of 1906 against Martin Nicholas Speyer (Chairman of the Australia & New Zealand/Eastern Shipping Conference and the Australian Agent of the China Navigation Co. Ltd) and the China Navigation Co. Ltd, alleging Speyer's participation in the making of contracts in restraint of trade with other countries and of being knowingly concerned with members of the Conference engaging in combination in restraint of such trade and commerce. A subsequent action was brought by Meyer Heine Proprietary Ltd, which was one of the companies identified in the original case. The Indo-China Steam Navigation Co. Ltd was a member of the Conference, and was involved in its defence, providing statistics about its own activities, but was not directly implicated in the legal action. The series includes correspondence of Ebsworth & Ebsworth, solicitors, of Sydney, N.S.W., who provided legal advice to the Conference and its members. The case was discontinued in 1967, with both sides agreeing to pay their own costs.