ALL FOR EMPIRE LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 50, 28 February 1916, Page 7

ALL FOR EMPIRE LEAGUE.

«TCAB ON THE ENEMY'S CAMP." NO GERMAN GOODS. • COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' ACTIVITY. The establishment in Auckland of a branch oi the All For Empire League was discussed at an enthusiastic meeting on Saturday evening of the Auckland Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association. The principal object of the Tea<rue. which was originally promoted at a°conference of tbe«Tnite.d Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association held at Coristchurch last month, is the elimination of enemy trade, and especially German trade, from the country. A branch of the League has already teen formed at Wellington. Air J. M. Mennie (president of the Auckland Association), in introducing the subject said that it was undoubtedly a fact that the British people, through their „ 00 d nature, had contributed in a great measure to the present success of the German people by dealing so largely with them before the war. Commercial men in England were placed at a- disadvantage oivins to the unfairness of trade, and the free trade principle did not apply. By formin" a league in New Zealand to shut out German trade they would be. doiao-' something, at any rate, in return for | what the Mother Country had done for >- e w Zealanders in giving them such a land to lire in. • ' Mr. W. Garrett, a vice-president of the Association, said that the delegates who attended the conference at which the scheme was first mooted were the foundation members oi the league. The chief aim in forming a branch of the league was to obtain as strong a membership as was possible, so that they might carry a 3 much weight as possible with the Government, and at the ( amr time obviate the present position in regard to enemy supplies. The position briefly was "No German labour, no German trade, no German influence, and the British Empire for the British people." The question had already been dealt with by various association's, chambers of commerce, and other bodies in the South, and all had emphasised the necessity for carrying «out the objects proposed. This was the first organised movement, however, in New Zealand. He had gathered from the meeting held at the conference that it was intended to set up a committee to be composed of the various delegates from each community, but it had apparently been since arranged that tne Commercial Travellers' Associations should handle the whole matter. The travellers were in the best position to obtain members for the league. , %J think it is a matter we can ta<ca up and heartily support," continued Mr. Garrett. "\K have to secure for ourselves our trade when the war is over. I think it was Mr. Bonar law who said that ' we were unprepared for war, but let us be prepared for peace.' It has been illustrated time and time again that German goods are sold at a high rate in Germany, and half the rate of their manufacture in England. Thus Germany has collared the bulk of our trade. It is worthy of note that in no ease has a hardware man been circularised with anything but hardware goods. This emphasises, .the fact that undoubt- ' edly German influence is being exercised. ; I do appeal to you as Britishers and members of the Association to enter into the thing most hgSrtily. A lot of . us would like to be in the trenches, but ' as we are unable to take our places yhere we would wish to be, here is our ■ opportunity to wage war on the enemy's camp, and by giving this scheme support we can do it. though indirectly." The following resolution, moved by Mr. Garrett, was carried unanimously: "That this meeting of Bffimbers of the? Auckland Commercial TrSTcilcrs' Association cordially endorses the action taken by the delegates.at the conference of the United Traveller? and Warehousemen's Association. held at Christchurch in February, and approves the formation of an A]l-for,-Em-pire League. Feeling sure that the best interests of the country and the Empire necessitate the elimination of enemy trade and influence from our midst, the meeting pledges istelf to use every possible endeavour to further the objects of the League, and undertakes to heartily support any representative committee set up to take charge of the movement."