ENEMY TRADE INFLUENCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3070, 4 May 1917, Page 5

ENEMY TRADE INFLUENCE

According to a; statement issued by the Commonwealth Prime Minister's publicity department, 786,735 snares, held by 1958 persons of enemy origin, are now held by,the Public Trustee. The statement adds that "in accordanco with tho provisions of tho Enemy Shareholders' Regulations, returns have been made by 3600 companies, disclosing 2,424,949 shares, lfeTd a5.f0110w5:—663,433 10w5:—663,433 by 1486 enemy subjects; 1,761,516 by 2579 naturalised persons of enemy origin. Of tho latter total 1.387,540 shares were held by naturalised persons of enemy origin to whom exemption was granted. A very large proportion of these were shares in local co-operative companies. In the cases of about 30 shareholders, directions havo been given by the AttorneyGeneral or Solicitor-General to tho Public Trustee for the sale of shares transferred to him. Trading with enemy firms outside Australia lias also been checked by tho Commonwealth Government under the common law, and by tho King's proclamation at tho outbreak of war trade with enoray countries was' forbidden. • But this left untouched many of the German tentacles, in the shape of companios incorporated in British territory, but largoly owned or controlled in Germany or .by Germans. Tho Government therefore passed a proclamation forbidding trade with any company owned wholly or mainly by porsons of enemy nationality or rcsidenco, or declared by the Attorney-General to bo under enemy control or influence This put beyond the pale such concerns as tho Australian Motal Company, tho Continental Rubber Company, and others. To provont'tho importation or salb of German goods-under any disguises, tho importation is forbidden of goods of' German origin, or owned by or purchased from porsons or companies under German influence or ■ control. Acts have been passed for suspending and preventing the uso of German trade marks and for regulating the use of German patents. Under tho "War Precautions (Mining) regulations no person other than_ a natural-born British subject may, without the consent of the Attorney-General or tho SolicitorGeneral; acquiro any share or interest in a mining or metallurgical company |or businoss in Australia."- ,