MADE IN GERMANY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 23, 28 January 1902, Page 2

MADE IN GERMANY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—lf the workers place much reliance on Mr John Johnson's statements they will find themselves as much misled over all the other details as he misled them over the name of the builders of the German, boat. He characterises my notice of motion for the City Council as mischievous, but he fails to explain wherein the mischief lies, unless it is to tbe trade of our enemies, who are making big profits out of their foreign shoddy goods, which they are pouring into our colonial markets, underselling British and colonial manufactures. I would advise our colonial workers to insist on a preferential tariff and give all the help they can to our kith and kin across the' sea who are struggling against foreig-n competition, much of it bounty fed, with subsidised steamers to carry it out to our colonies, thereby injuring the very men who are heavily taxed to provide warships to protect our shores against foreign aggression, and foreign insolence, which has continued since Emperor William's famous cable to Kruger. Perhaps Mr John Johnson will tell us what the Germans buy from us besides an oil launch, and I hope his information will be more reliable than the name of the boat builders given in his letter. I can give him reliable information as to what we buy from Germany. Thousands of pounds' worth of hosiery and gloves, do. haberdashery, flannelettes, ready made clothing, rugs, blankets, dress goods, boots and shoes, pianos, musical instruments, etc., which 1 could fill your paper with enumerating, all of. : which are allowed to compete with and on precisely the same terms as British goods. Trusting, Sir, that Mr Johnson will give us full particulars of the class of goods we manufacture and supply to Germany, I am, J, H. HANNAN.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Several of your recent correspondents appear to think that we shall never be able to stop the importation of German manufactured goods, and they tell us that all our protestations will end in smoke. Well, Sir, if the resolutions of indignation which have been passed by municipal bodies and public meetings are not followed up by some action, then, indeed, they are verily a blustering sham. But I believe something tangible will arise out of the present situation. You wisely and truly point out that the proper time for settling this question will be when the colonial Premiers assemble at London in the present year. The question of Customs duties is one of the foremost subjects to be dealt with, and when the clause in favour of British goods comes forward we may safely rely that all the Premiers will remember- tbe tactics of the German people and vote accordingly. Thoughtful - people, aira especially our farmers, have long wished for a remedy for this matter, and the opportunity has been precipitated by the German anglophobia. We shall bind the Empire closer together. One of your correspondents makes comparisons about the qualities of German and British goods, and tries to raise a laugh against us when it comes to music. He seems to think that we could not exist without the German article. I confess that I love German music, and likewise French, Italian and Spanish; but rather than submitt to be slandered and insulted by the composers of either I would prefer never to hear them again. I would listen afresh to the songs of my youth, "Scots Wha Hae," "Come Back to Ireland," "Men of Harlech," and "Tbe Island __ Home of an Englishman." At the present time our homes are crowded with German clothing, stationery, toys, matches, cutlery, furniture, fiddles, pianos, etc., and some of our tradesmen boastfully advertise the names of the German makers, while not a word is said about the Engbsh makers. The piano manufactory of Broadwood and Sons employs five hundred skilled workmen in London, has been established over two hundred years, and the quality of their instruments has never been surpassed, if equalled. The time is coming when this state of things will be changed. We shall soon show how they make things in Germany, the long hours and starvation wages paid to men, women and children iv that, country, and we will purchase British goods and help to bind our beloved Empire to our hearts and homes. —I am, etc., AN ENGLISHMAN.