A STARTLING CHARGE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2522, 24 July 1915, Page 5

A STARTLING CHARGE

IN FEDERAL HOUSE i CONTROL OF METAL MARKETS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Melbourne, July 23. The Government's scheme for the disposal of metals includes the commandeering of all supplies of metals and metallic products, Which aro to bo sold at auction, under Government control. Tho proceeds, less charges, will ho paid to the owners before the shipments are allowed to leave. The Government requires satisfactory evidence that it will be impossible for the metals to retich the enemy. (Rec. July 23, 11.5 p.m.) Melbourne, July.23. Sir. Hughes, referring to the metal i position, said that recently the agent for Mctallgesellschaft and Morton's was . declared to be an enemy firm and was forbidden to trade. Tho German i metal group thus lost tho service of its ■ agent, and it became necessary, if Geri man interests ivere not to be sacrificed, ■ to secure some other agents. These of course could not bo German, and it became nccfessary to obtain an Australian firm to act as 'agent for the great German metal combine during the war in which Britain and Germany were locked in death-grips,- and British control of ,1 metals was essential to victory. This j was not found impossible. An Austra- . liaji firm applied to act as sole agent 1 for Merton's, the firm lately represented ( in Australia by the Australian Metal Company, the agent >of Metallgesellschaft. This firm are also directors of , a mining company. These facts demand i action, and the Government had decided to act. .Mr. Greene pressed: Mr. Hughes to . give the names. Mr. Hughes said he-would do so, but the questioners Would have to accept the responsibility. He then stated that the , companies involved. were the Mount Morgan Company, both'' directly and throilprh its refining agency, tho Bleot-ro- ' lytic Company, and the Goldsbrougli Mort Company. , .