The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1916. CLIPPING GERMANY'S TRADE WINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1916. CLIPPING GERMANY'S TRADE WINGS.

Recent cable messages received from Canada and Australia indicate that the post-war commercial contest with Germany is going to lie thorough and determined. While there lia9 been much talk in the Motherland and other parts of the Empire concerning common action in capturing German trade and in killing it as far as possible, there has been remarkably little practical evidence ot the steps that must be taken to ensure success. It is all the more encouraging to find that Canada Ims already made a start in the commerce campaign. Canadian financiers are not waiting until the war is finished before commencing their attack on Gamian business strongholds and have chosen South America as the first field of operations, the Royal Bank of Canada Slaving opened several branches in Venezuela, and extensions elsewhere are impending. It does not require any special knowledge of business methods to see at a glance that the initial step taken by the Canadian financiers is absolutely on the right lines. The banking business is the pivot 011 which all commercial enterprises turn, and by opening branches of the Royal Bank ot Canada in South America at the present time they will be established by the end of the war and be in a position to foster Canadian trade and commerce to the. utmost. What Canada, can do towards breaking down the German business strongholds in South America can be done elsewhere, 'wherever it is worth while. Germany, asiongst her numerous blatant boastings, has claimed to be independent of outside markets, and a|though she built up her colossal preparations for world conquest by means of foreign trade, yet there is no valid reason why we should not give them the benefit of their boast, and let them find out, after the war, how well or ill they can fare when shut out from their pre-war trade and commerce. It is not even worth while enquiring why, if they were so self-contained, they spent such vast sums in subsidising every department of industry, commerce and shipping in order to flood the world's markets .with under-priced goods. They will assuredly find in the future that they are blocked from forcing their exports on the markets which they have heretofore exploited, frequently by just as unscrupulous methods as they are adopting in their present warfare. An interesting light is thrown on these methods by the evidence given at the Inter-State Commission of Inquiry into the Pacific Island trade now being held in Australia. It was stated that a contract was entered into by German trading firms whereby they practically controlled the wliole of the copra trade. That is a system which is quite consonant ivith Germany's policy .of world grab v hich she has pursued in the past and wculd continue in the future il not prevented. It is said that the German South Pacific trade is practically in four hands, and that these commerce pirates have so completely interwoven their activities that competition is impossible. That is the state of affairs that we have been up against in the past, and it is satisfactory to note, that the Australians are

starting to make preparation? for preventing a continuance of this most pernicious system. lieloru tlic war there wan always a disinclination to raise trouble by any act of "unfriendliness" to Germany. " That phase u f business relations is ended, and the reaction that has set in consequence of Germanic I rightfulness and the persistent and bitter hatred of Britain and all things British relieves us from all qualms of delicacy in handling such venomous reptiles. There never was a pisiner or more imperative duty imposed 011 civilised mankind than that of refusing all future social or commercial Intercourse with a nation that lias outiaged wiu shameless gloatings every cod 3 of honor and committed hideous hor>\;s with barbaric lust anil ferocity. The example that is being set by Canada and Australia is one that should bfcome general with every country' that is now banded together to crush the dihturbers of the world's peace and freedom, Wj must not only retain possession of all the Germanic colonies but must drive her from our markets, and vigorously attack all her business strongholds in every foreign country. This is not vengeance: it is sane and wise prudenethat will operate in two directions.. It will Restrict and curb German ambition and it) will drain* the peace-loving nations closer together in an active bond of mutual protection tending to the'ir expansion and strength. Germany aimed at setting the world ablaze, and she cannot justly complain if in quenching the flames she is left limp and impotent for further incendiarism. Trade a.id commerce are a nation's life-blood, and by restricting Germany's scops of operations will be afforded the best guarantee of a low temperature nnd a consequent indisposition to act tie part of the wolf.