ENEMY TRADE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 115, 9 February 1920, Page 4

ENEMY TRADE

THE AUSTRIAN SCHEME

CHRISTCHURCH " AGENTS"

INTERVIEWED

The Wellington correspondent of tho "Sun" telegraphed a list of five Christchurch firms mentioned as being agents of the Austrian organisation, which v.iin the subject of an ortielo in Tiie Domin'ion on "Enemy Trade." As was the caso in Wellington, one firm could not bo located. A "Sun" representative made inquiries concerning the others. Three of these trade respectively in hardware, soft goods, and stationery. In all cases an indignant denial was given to ths suggestion thai; they had agreed to act as agents, or had previously even heard of "The World Market" or the organisation connected with it. It was very definitely put to tho nressman that they were not likely ever to be concerned with tho Austrian 'project. In tho remaining, instance, the principal of the firm mentioned, which had traded .in Eastern goods, died about two years affo, and tho concern had beer, wound up. An executor denied knowledge of the affair, Curiously enough, this firm, when it existed, had carried oil business on the premises of one of the other concerns named in the publication. "Tho mere, fact that those responsible for 'The World's Market,' appear to have picked its 'agents' for tlie receipt of subpcriptions without.consulting them makes it apparent that this move is only a. blind, said n representative, of one of the alleged agent firms. "It certainly Bcems ft crude method, for, as I know. as a fact that orders for goods arc being lodged in Germany from the Dominion, there does not seem a great need for this clumsv camouflage." This merchant hastened "to sav that his firm was not trading with Gonnany or Austria; out, ha said that lie would like to explain tho point of view of oiie morchant who was in communication with Germany. This merchant had told him that, as Germany wns "down and out," for many years, he did not consider it unpatriotic, to take Gorman goods. It meant a reduction in tho cost of goods to tho public, for there was no doubt that Mine of Che British concerns had been indulging in profitceiing.