GERMAN TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2184, 7 May 1908, Page 3

GERMAN TRADE.

DEBATE IN THE REICHSTAG. STRICT ECONO AIT IMPERATIVE., United Press Association—Copyright (Received Alay 6, 10.47 p.m.) BERLIN, May 6. . A debate on the New Guinea mail subsidy led the Reichstag to eliminate the proposed services between German New Guinea and Singapore, and to reduce the proposed additional grant of £25,000 in aid of the so-caJlcd-A'Us-tralian-Japane“so line to £11,500. Herr Kani-tz (Conservative) urged that in view of the seriousness’ of the Empire’s financial embarrassments, strict economy was imperative. The North German Lloyds’ subventions totalled £5,500,000, and tho company was therefore scarcely a. necessitous undertaking. Herr Hormann (Radical deputy for Bremen) declared that unless the company received further Government assistance, British shipping would benefit by the consequent decrease of efficiency on the part of tho company which ought to be subsidised as long as its services were not remunerative. Herr Dcrnburg, describing the Bill as an act of colonial policy, argued that tho commercial prospects of Now Guinea warranted the outlay. He emphasised the fact that tho. German colonics in the South Seas imported £150,000 worth of German goods, and the prosperity 'of tho islands would increase during tho next decade when the copra trade was fully developed. The company’s services in the South Seas entailed a loss, and it was highly important that they should retain regular communications between Australia and German New Guinea. German hands had increased the trade, which implied increased Customs. Australian competition in tho South Seas was very keen,- and this competition must drive them -out of the field, since it would seriously restrict tho market for German goods unless large and fast German steamships were available to maintain communication with the German colonies. He added that if the German flag disappeared it would create a bad impression. The subsidy was asked for in tlio interests of the German South Sea Islands, lest for tho sake of the paltry sum tho flag would lose the respect to which it was entitled. GERMANY’S ADVANTAGE. NOT FOR AUSTRALIA TO IMPOSE CONDITIONS. United Press Association—Copyright (Received Alay 7, 12.25 a.m.) BERLIN, May 6. A German somi-officia.l telegraph agency, recording the opinions of Australian newspapers relative to the “Cologne ’Gazette’s” suggestions in connection with New Guinea, adds that Germany, by virtue of her control of the lower course of t-lie river Hira, holds the advantage. It was for jier rather than Australia -to impose conditions in any coming -negotiations.