Australia

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 191, 21 January 1915, Page 5

Australia

TRADING WITH THE ENEMY. VIA lAMERICA AND HOLLAND. HEAVY FINES INFLICTED. Sydney, January 20. Frederick Erhard and Lionel Moss, members of the firm of Groth and Company, oil and color merchants, and Muller, an employee, were charged with trading and attempting to trade with tile enemy. Counsel stated that Moss was absent in New Zealand, but pleaded not guilty on his behalf. The Crown's case was that Erhard and Muller were naturalised German subjects. The firm wrote a letter to Fuller and Co., America, ordering white lead. Inside this was another letter for the Uneedit Company, Holland, ordering paint, which letter Fuller's were asked to forward. The letter was posted in the late fee box, the Crown claiming that the intention was that it should thus escape the censors, but it did not. The letter requested the Uneedit Company to obtain certain German goods, with instructions that all German marks should be removed, and that fchey be sent via America as Dutch goods. The Crown also alleged that documents referring to the order were missing from the usual file.

Counsel for the defendants argued that they were doing only what every otlier business man was doing—trying to open a new market. There was no evidence that they had traded, or attempted to trade, with the enemy. On counsel's suggestion the charge was altered to one of attempting to trade with the enemy. Erhard said that he was the principal partner in Groth's. He signed the letter, and took the responsibility. All the letter asked was for samples and quotations. His reason for sending via America was to obviate the delay which would have occurred by the Suez route. The firm was honestly trying to open new markets for goods previously obtained from Germany. The Magistrate agreed that there was no evidence against Moss, who was discharged. The others were convicted. Erhard was fined £2OO, in default twelve months in gaol; and Muller £IOO, or six months' imprisonment.

AN INTERNED STEAMER. Received 20 ; 8.16 p.m. Melbourne, January 20. The Federal Government is seeking to recover £1023, expended on behalf of British passengers on the German liner Roon, which was held up at Batavia in August. So far only £246 has been recovered, and the matter has been placed in the hands of the police. It is stated that twenty-four passengers proceeded to New Zealand, and the Dominion Government has been asked to collect £327.

BANKS AND THE WAR. A FINE RECORD. Sydney, January 20. At the half-yearly meeting of the Commercial Banking Company the chairman stated that the bank had taken up £250,000 of the British war loan, had advanced £900,000 to the State Government, and had subscribed liberally to the war funds. Fifty-two of its officers were in the expeditionary force and there were also from thirty to fifty generally absent from home defence. A ten per cent, dividend was declared. THE RECRUITING DAMPS. CHARGES OP INTEMPERANCE. ( Sydney, January 20. The Rev. Mr Hammond declares that since the expeditionary camps were opened 600 recruits have been rejected for drunkenness.