GERMAN TRADERS IN THE ISLANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1915, Page 2

GERMAN TRADERS IN THE ISLANDS.

A CAPTAIN'S OPINION. Auckland, September 30. Captain William Ross, part owner of tlie ketch Lizize Taylor, and owner o! the liarquentiiie Vsabel, reached Auckland from Tonga yesterday morning in the latter vessel. He, when interviewed, stated that he was really disqualified from expressing any opinion as to the treatment due to German traders, for the reason that lie was the owner of stores in the Islands, and was in direct competition with them. If they were prevented from trading he would naturally benefit. Referring to the statements made yarding the extent of the trade in German hands, Captain Ross said it was wrong to speak of a German monopoly, though 'in Tonga they certainly held a preponderance in the trade. The D.U. and P.G. certainly did not hold a monopoly in that group, as there were independent German traders in a large way of business, men who were really in a sounder financial position than the D.H. and P.G. ' They were trading without any restriction, and exactly as before the war. The D.H. and P.G. had altered its policy to some extent of late, consigning goods for the most part to its agent under their names; but the firm was there all the same.

With regard to the action of the Union Company and the owners of the Lizzie Taylor in carrying goods consigned to the German firm by Auckland merchants, Ca.ptain Hoss took up the same attitude of Mr. Irvine, Auckland manager for the Union Company, namely, that as common carriers they had no option but to take the goods which were consigned under a warrant issued specially by the Customs. The remedy, he contended, if it were desired to stop the Germans from trading, was united action by the Dominion and Commonwealth Governments to prevent the shipping of goods to enemy subjects in the Islands.