"MADE IN GERMANY."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 32, 29 May 1914, Page 6

"MADE IN GERMANY."

THE PIANO TRADE IN SYDNEY. Tr t f .7 j f

IBy EIXJTKIO TILIGBAPH—UOVTRTGHT ' [Untthd Parsi Association.] • (Received 0.T.1 'a.in.) May 29.-

Before the Tariff Commission a witness stated, that ho made pianos an Sydney, hut bad to sell them as German instruments. He did so at the request of customers, and in order to meet competition. He used the name : plates of German firms who had no local agents. Sometimes the name or addresses were fictitious or the manufacturer's name was spelt slightly incorrectly. If a buyer wanted an Aus-tralian-made piano it was sold as such, but if he wanted a German one he called it German. He added that one of two other retailers did sirhilarly. Even English pianos were imported hearing German firms' nameplates. /' '

The representatives of a leading house said that if the practice existed it was infinitesimal in extent, because the maker's agent would talce immediate legal action to prevent it;

Another witness quoted a ease where the name-plate of a well-known Australian maker was replaced by that of another instrument sold at a bigger price. , . , , ; . .