ON THE ALERT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2847, 11 August 1916, Page 6

ON THE ALERT

FOR GERMAN DRAPERY

A CUSTOMS INVESTIGATION

The Minister of Customs (the Hon. A. M. Myers) issued a statement yesterday concerning what had been done regarding the supposed rccent importation of German drapery, via America, by . a Dunedin firm, about which matter n question was asked in tho House of Representatives by Mr. J. S. Dickson, M.P., on July 29.

Tho Minister stated that he subsequently obtained the name of the firm concerned from Mr. Dickson, who further; advised him that its address was Christchurch, and not Dunedin. He immediately gave instructions to the Comptroller of Customs to urgently and thoroughly investigate the matter, and the.' report which has been, received, dated August 1, indicates that tho only shipment of drapery imported by the firm in question during the fortnight prior to that date, was olio per tho s.s. Tainui direct from London, which was passed for on July 24. All the invoices of this shipment wero carefully examined, but no trace of goods of German origin could bo found. Fairly largo quantities of the goods were invoiced by Swiss firms, and all of these were supported by specifications duly stamped by the Customs and Excise Office, London. all of the cases in this shipment, ■ except ono, were packed in England. "In view of this," Mr. Myers said, "I endeavoured to obtain further particulars from Air. Dickson regarding the shipment ho was alluding to, but found that he did not possess any further information on the point. I .can only assume, therefore, that it is another case of mistaken information. Various other complaints as regards supposed importation of Gorman goods reach mo from timo to time," remarked Mr. Myers, "but when investigation is made, it is found.that there are no grounds for the allegations.'* Jlr. Myers concluded by pointing out" that tho Government is doing everything possiblo to prevent trading with the enemy, and that ho feels certain tho provisions - made are quite sufficient to cope with any attempts which might be made in that direction. The Customs Department are always on the alert to detect illegal trading of any description, and the officers of the Department aro keenly alive to their responsibilities in this, connection, no trouble being too great for them to go to in order that they might satisfy themselves of the. correctness of the country or origin of goods imported into this country," as shown by the accompanying documents.