TRADE AFTER THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1916, Page 6

TRADE AFTER THE WAR.

. AXTI-GERMAN MEASURES. REPRESEXTATIOXS TO THE GOYERXMEXT. A deputation representing the executive of the Association of the Xevv Zealand Chambers of Commerce, and consisting oi Messrs .1. Macintosh, C. 'M. Luke and 11. I). Yickery, on Monday interviewed the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. V. Massey), the Minister of Finance (the Eight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward), and the Minister of Customs (the Hon. A. M. Myers) with respect to questions connected with enemy trading. Mr. Macintosh said that the J things they desired to lay before the Ministers were really the recommendations of the Conference of the Chambers of Commerce on this matter. ]t was particularly enemy trade on the cessation of the war that they wished to bring before the notice of the Ministers. The matter of companies with foreign shareholders registered in the British Empire had come into prominence since war broke out, and it had been shown that many companies registered in Great Britain and in British dominions, whose capital was owned by foreigners, were trading as British companies, and in some cases had adopted names apparently with thc-design of indicating that they were in fact British-controlled companies. It appeared to be the position that under British .company la and under company law in Xe'w Zealand, that there was no restriction on foreigners forming themselves into a company and trading as a British concern. It was suggested that the Companies Act be amended to meet this contingency by stipulating that before a company could be registered in Xew Zealand, the bulk of its shares must be held by British subjects, and the transfer of shares to other than British subjects restricted, it was also suggested that goods imported should be marked with the name of the country of production.

Mr. Luke referred to the German endeavors to get their goods into British possessions through devious channels. What was wanted was a detective system to make this impossible. He himself was not able to put his finger upon any company in .which was invested German capital except the rubber company; but it was possible that the Germans would circumvent us by investing capital in the dominions in companies registered in Britisli names and having a portion of British capital. They wanted this to be made impossible. Mr. Luke also referred to the success which had attended our exhibit at the San Francisco Exhibition, and pointed out that it was feared the benefits won from that advertisement might be lo'st to us unless wq had a trade representative in America.

Mr. Viekery (secretary of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce) further supported what had been said. He also stated that there was a feeling that gifts for patriotic purposes should be exempted from the income-tax returns.

PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY. The Prime Minister said they were at all events agreed upon most of the points raised, especially aa to the prer vention of the enemy gaining a footing again in this country. A great difference existed to-day in this respect-Mo a year or two ago." In the year' prior to the war we took from Germany nearly three-quarters of a million sterling worth of goods; and that importation had now ceased. He pointed out the serious offence it was to trade with the enemy and the effect of this. In regard to importations from neutral countries, no document or guarantee was required in the case of America, as in the case of other neutral countries, and this matter had recently been taken up by the American representative here. He was being asked if he would sep that proper steps were being taken to prevent t'DP importation of enemy goods from the United States. "I believe," said Mr. Massey. "that that will have the desired effect." As to enemy trade after t)>e war, there was a section in the Finance of last session providing that a 50 per eent, duty over and above the existing duties eoiild tie imposed upon the goods of.our present enemifi?, lie flicught he might predict that after the war-there would be no difficulty in bringing this section into operation. Personally, he thought, we should never agaia'io ijj the position we were in before the war—gitfjng in German goods, as we did. because ' Mi»? were a little cheaper. With regard to'the question of Igenir shareholders in Xew Zealand lie did not think there was C ';, v '*auMfl j# s]|,Bt respect now. As to -. c ' * trad* *-iifc Australia, tins rec,proca. ~ , „** j , fter matter could .. . the war, when there *. - j.. \ hoA trade rearrangement?, ht ••%.,.]„ the necessity for a Xow Zcalantt ... »<■"- representative in America 19 ijllow V« the good advertisement we iwtiw « the San Francisco Exhibition, and m matter would be attended to In the future - At present, however, W WW sending all the produce we could export to Britain and our Allies.

MINISTER OF FINANCE. Sir Joseph Ward expressed his sym-1 pathv with the views of the dep»tßtiou. | He emphasised what Mr. Massey hid said in regard to the powers they already had under the Finance ,Act to bring into operation a 50 per cent, additional duty on enemy goods after the war ended." The section of the Aet was so framed that the imposition «oljld be made between the Fecsi.ons of Parliament. He also showed that there was J much more to be done in this matter of eneniv trade than New Zealand »teje', could'do. The British Government and the overseas Governments would have to actively co-operate. This Government would stop at nothing to ensure that in the future everything would be done to combat the trade at a ■ country that aimed at and fought for supremacy on land and sea. But unless *be feffeh Government lielpcd also in the matte* j of imported raw materials, which were manufactured and sent out here, our efforts would he nullified. He would make it impossible for the enemy—he would like to see America come in with us in this—to eoal their steamers In any British possession—either at Colombo, Fiji, Samoa, Australia, New Ze*t«gad or Aden. Then the German and Assyrian empires would find they were up agalssfc | a problem indeed when they strove fo»] supremacy on land and sea. He was sjire he was speaking also- for Mr. Massey sfesnie said .that there was nothing they Would not do to co-operate with Britain and otfc* portions of the Empire to bring about what ?K?s desired in this direction. He was *qi"iy to 'hear any proposal in the dirfictijpn \eg an exemption from income tax on pasfcKiotic gifts. He pointed out that it would be impossible from the'financial point of view to let such incomes escape ta*s-j-jtian where certain gifts had .beeir ana Jo, it Wflijud have to

have stopped the patriotic wave that swept over Xew Zealand and placed additional taxation on the people than to do this. As one responsible for the finance of the country, he was opposed to it. The Xational Government had very wide responsibilities on its shoulders in connection with our men at the front, and they were not raising any matters concerning taxation which at a normal time might be raised. They wore doing this for the good of the country. He was at one with the deputation in seeing that the enemy were precluded from gaining any footing in this country in the future, in the direction suggested.

MINISTER OF CUSTOMS. The Hon. A. M. Myers associated himself entirely with the remarks of his colleagues. He urged that anyone having any suspicions in regard to goods from abroad should put themselves in touch with the authorities. The time to prepare -for what would take place after the war was now, and the Chambers of Commerce would have a great responsibility upon their shoulders in this matter. He was going to see that the Chambers took this important question up. Information should be obtained fiow as to how to reduce former trade with enemy countries, and tho Chambers could form themselves into a Board of Trade and endeavour to find out —(a) what goods could be manufactured here; (b) what was possible to he manufactured in other countries. Science in this matter, said Mr. Myers, should bo harnessed to industrialism, to supply the needs of tho Empire. ALL FOR EMPIRE LEAGUE. TO COMBAT ENEMY TRADE. "That this conference heartily approves of any scheme having for its object the elimination of enemy trade from the Dominion, and undertakes to bring before the members of all affiliated associations the necessity for an immediate and active canvass towards the accomplishment of tho suggestions set out in the objects of the All for Empire League.'' \ "That the delegates here assembled form themseh-cs into an All for Empire League for the elimination of enemy trade from within the British Empire."

These resolutions, carried by the annual conference of the United Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association of New Zealand held at Christchurch recently, heralded the establishment of a new league—the All for Empire League. Sixteen foundation members—delegates to the conference—subscribed their names to tho league, and threw upon the table tho shilling which it was resolved should be the minimmi' subscription for membership within tho league. Considerable enthusiasm marked the birth of tho new league, for which a brilliant future, extending into every corner of the country, under the energetic activity of association members, was predicted. The spooial preliminary objects of the. league, as drawn up by an enthusiast who has devoted much time to the subject, were adopted as follows: (1) To ensure the safety of tho British Empire by advocating more efficient, means of defence, both military and naval, and greater unity between tin-self-governing States and of the Eippire and the Mother Country. (2) To gpuui'c a clean, loyal and patl'h otic citizenship by promoting legislation making it impossble for alien subjects, the laws of whose country ot origin permit of their retailing citizenship in New Zealand. (3) To obtain legislation making it illegal for aliens to hold property ! n bind or in tie? (-hares of any joint stock company trading in New Zoalanl. (4) To foster closer trade ic'\<v ::i----ships between the Mother Country. Now Zealand and the sister Rfiil'.s of \jl Jifppii-p, |;j: nivalis of rra.ipi.nciil t a rill's and preferential trade treatment. . (5) To promote reciprocal turili's anil the "most favored nation treatment" i,i tjie tariff relationships between NovZealand and Britain's 'Allies in the present war—Belgium. France. Italy. Montenegro, Portugal, Russia and Serbia. (fi) To aim as far as possible at the elimination of German trade within tUr Empire, by the adoption of an absolutely prohibitive tariff and increased shipping dues on all German ana" present enemy vessels visiting N>>w Zealand pons;

(7) To conduct by press propaganda a publicity campaign with the view u: keeping the people of Now Zealand alive to the tremendous issues involved ii Germany's attempt to dominate the commerce of the world.

(S) To make traffic in German goods impassible jj] New Poland by securing definite pledges from 'members of the League that they will not purchase goods made in Germany or of enemy origin from any merchant or storekeeper, and flhrf f'ISJ wi " not knowingly deal with msfWanfs pr. storekeepers wiip ha.ye purchased Oermiin «sr otner enemy goods since August, 191-1,