THE LUCKENBACH LINE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2833, 26 July 1916, Page 6

THE LUCKENBACH LINE

-* :— QUESTION IN THE lIOUSE. A, question regarding the whole Sal« importation of American motor-cars; and about the arrival here of a certain steamer, was asked in the House yesterday by Mr. G. V. Pearce. Sir. Pearce asked the Prime Minister whether his attention had been' drawn to the arrival here of the steamer Florence Luck'enbach, apparently a German name, with 320 American automobile* for discharge in Wellington. Mr. Wilford: There are 19,000 tons of spaoe filled with motor-cars. • Mr. Pearce naked whether the Government would impose a Customs' duty of at least 100 per cent, on these German motor-cars. A voice: American motor-cars. Mr. Pearco: I say German motor-cars advisedly, because some of the motorcars, the Studebaker, for instance, are made by German firms in America. The English Government had drawn nip a black list of firms in America. He asked whether the New Zealand Government was doing anything of the sort'. Mr. Massey: I am sorry the honourable gentleman did not see me with regard to this matter before asking ths question in the House. I can only say that the matter is being very closely inyestigated, and that the New Zealand Government intend to see that the British people aT6 not prejudiced' in the way the question suggests. I cannot give any details now, but I hope within a few days to make a statement on the subject If I can r f do it, one of ray colleague} will..