LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2825, 17 July 1916, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE ANTI-GERMAN LEAGUE

Sir,—Kindly allow me to supplement tho sensible arguments advanced by your correspondent, "A John Bull." I am wholly in agreement with him in condemning the so-called tree trade policy of Gieat Britain, which has been utilised to such great advantage by all and sun. dry in commercial matters, llillions. of money have been pocketed by each industrial nation having dealings with tho Homeland.- The Liberal Governments have' apparently. carefully studied tho be«t interests of outsidcra to the great disadvantage of thoir own people. Brit-, ish free- trado has over been a precious fraud; so far as- its real application to British industries wero concerned.. Not content, however, with allowing all kinds of material and manufactured products to enter free, they ..actually did away with the export duty on ooal, amounting to d£"2,000,000 a year; and our detestable enemy took tho fullest advantage of that decision. ■ Hud they had brains enough to understand the principles of "Imperial reciprocity" as advocated by the .late Mr. Chamberlain, and read the book bearing that title, tho preface of which was written by the deceased statesman, they would havo seen how countries like America and Germany were progressing by leaps and bounds, while Great Britain was-making tho slowest possible progress—largely, if not altogether, being hindored by stupidly adhering to a fotish long out of date. What could anyone get into the before-named countries without severo taxation, often approaching total prohibition? What could not those c< untries export to Great' Britain absolutely free? This lopsided trado called free trade was, and is, a misnomer. IJair trade and reciprocal trade I can quite understand—so can America, Germany, and other countries who havo su lurgoly bonefited. They had the free trade, Britain had the name. Although wonderfully advanced before other countries got the start, she was being exploited and left behind in the industrial competition. I hope, however, to livo to see tho day when those ancient and worn-out. doctrines will bo superseded, when Wo Allied nation#, and especially the component parts of our vast Empire, mil work in/harmony with a view to o.«tablishing our own trade, and' developing as far as humanly possible a fair and reciprocal trade our Allies. I quite agrco.with your correspondent about a prohibitive duty being placed upon enemy goods, and the denial of entrance to their- ships, etc. There is, one important matter to be considered beyond these suggestions. It is this-. Tho unscrupulous German will adopt any and every subterfuge, trick, or dovico to land his warts without usiug his own ships. Neutral countries will be used and .declared as tlio country of origin. Denmark, Holland, Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland especially will be declared as countries of origin; being neutral States, little inquiry would bo likely to; be made into the accuracy of statements regarding thoir/ bona fides. Action should bo taken oven now to ascertain tho nature and value of tho exports of thoso countries, tho names of the firms, engaged in tho .production .of all manufactured goods for exDort, and use tho information thus obtained to check any possible increase of manufacturing firms under fictitious names, for tho purposes of fraud. .Depend upon it, the long-trained and competent German liars will quite readily, adopt any name or use any moans their vilo natures can suggest to .endeavour to re-establish, trade and get even or beyond all. competitors. Tlio phrase, "rnado in Germany," will soon givo way [to made in Holland or elsewhere. If by any subterfugo enemy goods were imported, and suspicion arose as to the,genuineness ,of any manifest, or Customs I entry, power should bo taken to hold over all such products until tho British Consul of tho reputed country of origin could make inquiry, ■ and testify to their. I genuineness or otherwise. This delay would very soon caiuio exporters, and merchants to-think twice betoro committing themsolves to such business.

Then, as your correspondent suggests, print lists of all goods M imported, and by whom. Ono, other point 1 quite ■ agree.with; that is the cancelling ot' all naturalisation papers ■ issued to enemy subjects, without, distinction. If a German subject-is naturalised, and lie is still a German subject, where is the, benefit or safeguard of naturalisation? It is dimply. a fraud. . ETflry interned alien enemy should have-at-tho end of-the war, say, 14 , days -to clear out ol ! tho country; let him - go to tho Fatherland of which' ho is still a subject. Bvory German should be prohibited coming to New- Zealand for ten years; even then a poll tax of at least a: 100 should bo imposed. Anyone landing under an assumed namo should bo treated as a spy, and a sentence of.ten years' hard labour imi posod.—l am, etc., ANOTHER . JOHN BULL. -