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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2741, 8 April 1916, Page 4

There is some reason to _ suppose that the activity of representatives of American business houses in New Zealand for some time past lias resulted in the importation of a considerable quantity of German goods (says the "Otag.o Daily Times"). An illustration.of npw this is effected has been brought under, our notice by the head of a local firm. The firm received a straight-out offer from an establishment of good , standing in the United States to supply it with articles, which in America , _ are called "snap-fasteners," but in British countries are known as dome fasteners, of the "Diamond" and "Standard" variety, to be delivered at prices very considerably below the most favourable terms on which similar goods are obtainable .from the United Kingdom. There is no pretence, however, that the "snap-fasteners" are the product of factories in the United States. The cards of samples submitted by the American establishment blatantly proclaim the fact' that tile goods are "made in Germany." In view of this the local firm has declined to enter into a transaction which might have beep highly profitable. It is, instead, forwarding to tho Minister of Munitions the correspondence which it has received. Tliero is no doubt whatever that this case is simply illustrative of many others, and that there is a fairly large leakage of German manufactures, through the United States, into British communities.

Tho,Makara County Council, in our issue of to-day, advertises that a poll of ratepayers will bo taken'upon the proposal to raise a special loan of £10U0 to cover the cost of bridges that have been erected or repaired, and which were destroyed in the flood-of last November. The loss of these bridges and other damage has put the council to considerable expense, and it is felt by the council that the. raising of a loan to defray the cost will be a more acceptable and satisfactory method to the ratepayers than liy increasing -the general rate.