THE GERMAN TRADERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 232, 29 September 1915, Page 2

THE GERMAN TRADERS.

GETTCHQ AT THE MONOPOLY. IN nifi ISLAND TRADE. MORE OF THK INNER HISTORY. The Auckland Chamber nf Commerce i* atiD auraitmj a reply from the IVtme Miniiter in ro>pon«« to its representations the monopoly held by ijerman tradem in the British poe*e» Bion of Samoa. *nd the Rritish protec tontte cf Tonjra. The German Snn known ax the n.H. and TC. ia tradms without restriction, and hut no trouble in ohtaisirc: napplie* from Auckland. and in obtaining tr«n«port hv means of I'njon Company jteajner* and other ve»eel». The Chamber of Commerce hxs nrjed that an appeal be made to the Imperial authorities.

ISLAND TRADEIVS OPIXXCH*. < apta;n William R|)*e, part owner of the ketch liaue Taylor, and owner of the harquentine Yaabfl. reached Aurklajid from Tonga this monunp in the litti r vowel, after an aWnce of nearly two month*. Wbrn interviewed. Captain Ro*» stated that he waj really duwqaalifled from ex prtwuij any opinion as to the treat mrnt iluc to (Jcrman trjul<*n>. for the reason that ho Tvas the owmr of Btoreji in thr Inland*, and «v in direct competition with them. If thry wen* prerented from tmdins, he would naturally benefit. Referring to the statements made regardinj; the extent of the traJo in Grr man han<lj>, Captain Ho*? Raid that it wu » ronjj to i»pe*k of a German monopoly, tbouph in Tonpa they certainly held a preponderant-)- in the trade. Ihe II.H. and P.O. certainly did not hold a monopoly in that proup. v there were independent ficrman traulem in a lary way of btuines — men who were really in a nounder financial rxwition than th« D.H. and P.<;. They wrro trading without any restriction, and exactly as before the war. The D.H. and V.G. had altered its policy to gome extent of late, ronsipning poode for the most part to its agrnte under their otto name*, but the firm wan there all the nor. With rejrard to the artion of the I'nion Cα. and the owner* of the Lime Taylor in earryintj roods consisted to the German firm hy Auckland merchants. CiptRfKw took up the *ame attitude as Mr. Irvine. Auckland manager for the I'nion Co.. namely. trmt a' common carrier*, they had no option hut to take the Co<vi». which wire consigned under a Tar rant issued srwriaih- hv the Cimtomn TVe remedy, he contended, if it *vcro deMr«l to Mop the n<>rrran« from trudin™. ua* unit<vj action t>v the Dominion and i nmm^nwealth Government-* Lo prevent the fcluppinj of cocmU to enemy sulijwt" in the Islands. This would have the effect of putting them out of bu»in<*£. evpn if the High Comrmaaioner in Fiji took no action.