New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 33, 10 February 1915, Page 8

New Zealand

THE DUEKKOP CASE. VERDICT OF GUILTY. Per Press Association. Wellington, February 9. The hearing of charges against Wilhelm Heinrich Magnus Duerkop of trading with an ailen enemy concluded to-day. In Ids evidence, the accused detailed how he had paid a visit to (Germany prior to the war and made arrangements to ship goods.to Gustav J. J. Witt, of Hamburg. The greater portion of the shipments were tor consignees other than Witt, including Max N. Koester and Paul Otto Rochig. T'pon the outbreak of the war it became an important matter to him as to how the cargoes afloat wore to be disposed of, and he consulted Mr Algie, of Auckland, on the subject. Duerkop said he considered it desirable to trade with neutral countries rather than those engaged in hostilities, as the firms in neutral countries were on a sounder financial basis. The London market was unsuitable before and after the war for his firm’s trade in casings. The centres of the casing trade had always been in Hamburg and New York. He had tried to find a suitable market in tbo States, but failed to do so. owing to tbo financial condition caused by the war. Subsequently he wrote to Gustav J. J. Witt, of Rotterdam, and asked him if he were prepared to .accept consignments on commission. By reason of his personal acquaintance with Witt, who was one of the directors, he thought lie had a good opportunity of establishing a working contract. His negotiations with the Rotterdam company were conducted as with a distinctly separate firm. I here was no tacit understanding that goods shipped to Rotterdam must go to Hamburg 'and reach one of the directors who carried on business there. On August 22, witness continued, Witt, of Hamburg, wrote saying that all commercial relations bad stopped, and nothing could be hoped for until the end of the war. Witness considered it safer to send his goods in vessels flying neutral flags, as cheapei insurances could lie arranged. Moieover, the Dutch company had vessels going through the' Suez Canal, and its ships were consequently faster. At ordinary times Holland imported much of her casings from Germany, and he calculated that owing to the outbreak of the war the latter country would not he able to supply requirements.

The Chief Justice, summing up, said the case was not one of a man deliberately starting out to trade with the enemy. Duerkop had started trading with a man who became his enemy, and the point was whether the connection was severed or not. It had been agreed by counsel, in relation to the question of law involved, apart from the first tissue, that the jury might find that Duerkop did trade with Gustav J. J. Witt and Co., of Rotterdam, an association registered in Rotterdam with German directors and German capital, but quite distinct from any German company.

After a short retirement, the jury returned for a re-direction from the Judge. His honor said the whole question was whether Duerkop continued trading with Witt.

Mr Neavc, for the defence: Is it not competent for the jury to find ai simple verdict that Duerkop was trading with a Rotterdam firm?

His Honor: Wliat 1 direct is that if the jury believe that Duerkop continued to negotiate with Witt after the war about liis goods, then lie was trading with the enemy. Tlie foreman of the jury: Will a majority do for the finding? His Honor: The verdict must be unanimous. That is English law. The jury returned the following verdict: ‘‘We find that the prisoner did trade'with a company, called the Gustav •!. -1. Witt and Co.’s Handles-maa-tschappy which was registered in Rotterdam, in Holland: that this company had as its sole directors Germans, and that all its shareholders* were Germans; that its managing director was Gustav J. J. Witt, a German, who resided in Germany; that if in law this was trading with the enemy, then the prisoner is guilty under the second and third counts of the fifth indictment. The jury are agreed that the accused is guilty on indictments (V) to C 4). inasmuch as he did not break off negotiations with Gustav .1, J. Witt.”

Mr Neave gave notice of, appeal nr. tin? law point which ho raised at the beginning of the case, that the prisoner was indicted under an Act which had been repealed. The prisoner was released on hail, to appear at 10 a.in. next Tuesday. THE STAIN OF BIRTH. Auckland, February 0. A young German named Robert Emil Winkler, aged 25 years, presented himself at the Auckland police station this morning, and asked to he arrested. He stated that before war broke out he was employed by a hairdresser in the city, and on account of bis nationality had been thrown out of work, and had found that his German birth debarred him from getting work, lie had now come to the end of his resources. Winkler was formally taken into custody on a charge of vagrancy. and came before Mr Fraser, SAT., who remanded him for a week to enable the police to communicate with the military authorities, remark-

ing that if the circumstances were as stated it would probably lie a kindness to the prisoner to intern him as a hostile alien. TYPHOID IN MAORI CAMP. Auckland, February 9. Typhoid fever lias broken out among the Maori soldiers in camp at Avondale. Five men are in hospital with the disease, and one, an Orakei native,) who had not been inoculated, has died, Almost all the men have now been inoculated, and those not yet treated are being attended to immediately, The authorities in consequence do not regard the outbreak with alarm. THE COST OF THE WAR. Auckland, February 9. The question as to whether the Government contemplates an increase pf taxation on account of the Dominion’s war expenditure was put to the Prime Minister by a Herald representative this evening. “increased revenue will undoubtedly be necessary, said Mr Massey. “It is quite impossible yet to say what the war will tost New Zealand, but we must have sufficient revenue to pay interest and provide sinking funds for the war loans. We do not want to take more revenue from the public than is absolutely necessary for the carrying on of the business of the country, and doing our duty to the Empire. Every increase of taxation means lessening tiie spending power of the people, and interfering with what may he called the wages fund, and 1 need hardly say that we do not want to interfere with either one or the other any more than we can possibly help. 1 lie revenue has kept up wonderfully well so far, and the indications go to show that there is a probability of it remaining good right through the present year. The Post Office Savings Bank returns are particularly satisfactory, but when increased expenditure takes place there must lie increased revenue. We shall not ask for any more than is absolutely necessary, hut it is impossible just at present to make an accurate estimate of the amount that will he required.”

In reply to a further question as to the form that the increased taxation may be expected to take, Mr Massey said lie could give no information on that point at present. “I can only say that when the time comes we shall ask the people to contribute in proportion''to their ability.” Mr Massey added: “New Zealand has felt the pinch of the war probably less than any other country in His Majesty’s Dominions, and theree is no occasion for any anxiety. The prices of our staple products are so good that I believe the present prosperity will be continued right through. There is a feeling of confidence all over the Dominion. Employment is plentiful just at present, and the Government will endeavour to keep the public works going so as to provide employment for those who otherwise may be unemployed. The public works are now being kept fully up to the usual standard.” REINFORCEMENTS PARADE ON SATURDAY. Wellington, February 10. The Third Reinforcements from Trentham camp and the Maori Contingent will be paraded at Newton Park on Saturday. OILSKINS FOR THE NEW ZEALAND. Wellington, February 10. Lady Liverpool, in a letter of thanks to the subscribers of the halfcrown collection for oilskins for the men on H.M.S. New Zealand, acknowledges the sum of LOGO 10s sd, which was sent from all parts of the Dominion. & RANFURLY’S BEREAVEMENT. Wellington, February 10. On behalf of New Zealand, His Excellency the Governor (Lord Liverpool) sent a message of condolence to Lord Ranfuriy (ex-Governor of New Zealand) on the death of his son, Lord Northland, and received the billowing reply: ‘‘We thank Npw Zealand for the kind telegram. We are proud our only son gave his life for his country.—(Signed) Ranfuriy.”