BOYCOTT GERMAN TRADE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2464, 18 May 1915, Page 8

BOYCOTT GERMAN TRADE

CHRISTCHURCH MEETING

POLL TAX ON GERMANS URGED

(By Telegraph.—Special Odrrismondent.l

Chrlstohurch, May 17. •' Following upon a suggestion made by the "Press" that immediate measures should be taken to consolidate the opposition against German trade and to develop the Empire's 'resources and trade, a very largely attended and. enthusiastic ■public meeting convened by Mayor Holland, .was held in tho City Council Chambers this evening. Referring to iho Wanganui riots, the Mayor, said bo desired that the meeting would not be taken as an encouragement of any disorder or active measures against any Germans there , might be about-, but as truo Britishers they "were justified in looking ahead ajid seeing Where they could most effectively damage their bitter enemy in the futuro, and so prevent any recurrence of the present disastrous conflict. He was not anti-German, hut most strongly pro-Bri-tish, and thought everything possible should bo done to consolidate and develop^tho:'trade' and." rosources of the Empire.

Mr, J. A. Frostick, ex-president of tho Industrial Association, gave a fine spccch, outlining in practical fashion ivhat it would mean to Now Zealand if she made here the majority of the imported goods. Taking some of the main imports, ho pointed out that wo were 'Purchasing the labour of 60,000 people; if those 60,000 wore here they would have a population with them' totalling 210,000, whose food alone would repre-. sent tho demand for another £4,000,000 from our primary producers. ; ' Discussing tho direct question of operating against Germany, the Mayor advanced the motion, that the Government be asked to pass legislation increasing the pieferential tariff by 50 .per cent, against all enemy goods. The' ireeting, however,. "was in a far more belligerent mood than this. "Make it 100 per cent.-,-Mr. Mayor," from one quarter,,-.represented the'fair tenor of many speakers, till Mr.; J. B. Laurenson tested, the meeting by a motion advocating total exclusion of all German goods Irom the Dominion. This, met with hearty. acceptance from the meeting, although one' speaker pointed out that somo few.German products, such as potash, were world monopolies, and could not be'.'dono "without by our fanners. Tho meeting, however, would not listen to the suggestion that .any exception should be made, and carried tho resolution favouring' total exclusion overwhelmingly, only two voices being heard in favour of theoriginal motion. A deputation was appointed to place tho views of tho meeting before the Hon. W. Herries for transmission to Cabinet, with a view to its being sent to the Imperial .Government.

The meeting also passed a motion to the effect'that, if Germans are to bo admitted into'the Dominion at all in future it must be allowed onl.v. upon tha payment of a poll tax of £s(jo.