TRADE WITH GERMANY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2175, 11 September 1920, Page 3

TRADE WITH GERMANY.

A CLERIC’S OPINION. Dunedin, Sept, (i. The question of a trade boycott of England's late enemies, and particularly of Germany, was raised at the gathering of the Overseas Club on Saturday evening. During a discussion at the dose of an impressive lecture try Archdeacon Woodfliorpe on “British .Imperial Problems,” Mr R. S. Black referred to certain classes of British born people who by their trade had helped Germany to accumulate wealth. Tin; speaker said he hoped nothing oi that kind would happen again. Another member of the dub questioned whether this was a sensible view to lake, and suggested that if it was to our advantage to trade with Germany we should be well advised to do so. lie appealed to the archdeacon for his opinion on the subject.

Archdeacon Woodthorpe declared at once that he “had no sympathy with the boycotting-business at all.” The first principle of international trade was mutual service. Germany was the centre of an economic system of many millions of people that depended upon her effort, and any refusal to trade with her was only going to perpetuate the misery of Central Europe and perpetuate, bad feeling for many years to come. He believed himself that the attempt to boycott German commodities would be a mistake, but be left it to the statesmen on the political side a> distinct from the economic side t<- protect Great Britain against any unjust penetration by Germany, as >be did in the past for political purposes. it was only in that sense that ho would expect the statesmen of the Empire to be on the guard.