WAR REGULATIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2787, 3 June 1916, Page 6

WAR REGULATIONS

- $ ADVICE TO BUSINESS MEN

FROM THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Referring to the. War now in operation dealing; with.- oversea trading by tho business people of Nov." Zealand, tlfo Attorney-General (tho Hon. A. L. Herdman) remarked to a reporter yesterday that many persons and firms carrying on business in the Dominion had not furnished; returns: of. their foreign correspondence,' .which the regulations made it necessary for them to do, and that many of the returns sent ill did not appear to be complete. "The regulations provide," said Mr. Ifertlinan, "that every person, linn, _ or company carrying 011 Business in New Zealand and having, or having had since the commencement of the war, any foreign correspondent in respect of their business, whether that, business consists of importing or exporting goods, shall deliver a return of such correspondents io the Attorney-General.. . "It is not sufficient that the names of persons' with -whom merchants- actually correspond bo supplied.' The regulations provide that 'correspondent' means any person, firm; or company, between whom and tlio New Zealand firm there exists or has existed the, relation of principal and agent, or of vendor and purchaser, in respect of the purchase, sale, importation or exportation of any goods. It is thus-necessary that every foreign person, firm, or company, who has invoiced any goods to a'nyoiie in New Zealand, whether directly or indirectly, since the war began, be'included in tlie return.

"Advice should be sent from lime to time of any foreign person, firm or company, ivitlr whom any merchant may in future correspond or from or to whom ho may purchase, sell, import or export any goods.

"It is essential that this information should be supplied, and if particulars are not immediately Teceived, it will bo necessary for the Government to initiate pro. ceedings for a breach of the regulations. "It.may be at the same time desirablo to call attention to tlio regulations gazetted on' April 4- last, ' which provide that every-person who-holds or has tlie possession, management, or control of any enemy property shall forthwith send a notification to the Public Trusteo, who is tho custodian of enemy property, in th form and supplying the particulars set forth in tlie regulations. This applies to British, Aliled, Jieutral, and enemy ■subjects alike. Every person, firm, or company who holds any money, shares'or other property- which belong to an enemy must forthwith notify tlie Public Trustee. It may be that persons who traded with enemy, firms prior to tho war have sums credited in their books to such firms. In all such pases .returns are required, and'if they 'are not forthcoming, the Government will be reluctantly compelled to take - action against the offending persons. .

It cannot be too strongly impressed Vv°- n the general, public, an.d, particularly the mercantile community,' that ihey must make themselves familiar and comply J' 1 "?..the' AVar Regulations that are issued from time to time." Copies of - the New Zealand Gazette, containing all AVar Peculations made, can be obtained from the Government Printer,, at Wellington.