THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 69, 21 March 1916, Page 8

THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY.

1 ■•■■ — BRITISH VERSUS GERMAN CONTROL. The '"Electrical, Review" (London) of January 21st publishes the following interesting statement:— "With reference to an article that appeared in the 'Sunday Chronicle' oh 'Germans and the Electrical Industry,' a couple of months ago, in which the writer, one 'John Briton,' made certain references to the British Thomson-Hous-ton Co., Ltd., a further.article appeared in the same paper on Sunday laEt, in which the writer says:— "'When I w;rote"last on the German influence in the electrical industry, some two months ago, 1 gave an account of the extraordinary ramifications of the great German Trust, called briefly the A.E.G. of Berlin, and in this connection, before I go further, I desire to clear up an unfortunate misunderstanding. Among the "Allied and subordinate" companies, of which I gave a list, I mentioned the British Thomson-Houston Co. of Rugby. 1 did not say. that this company was owned or controlled by the A.E.G., but this inference has been drawn from my .article; .'and. I therefore desire tb.say. :that*:itfis.'.unfouhdcd. " 'The truth is that the 8.T.H., of Rugby, is mainly controlled by the General Electric Co., of Schenectady, which in its turn is a descendant of the Thomson-Houston Co., of America. The Thomson-Houston Co. in it 3 day sold ita European, patents to a number, of companies on this side of the Antlautie, some of which in due course were absorbed by the A.E.G., and some by the G.E.. Co. J " Tbe British Thomson-Houston Co. belongs, as I have said, to the latter category. It is true that the A.E.G. purchased the German rights under the patents of the G.E. Co. and the B.T.H. Co. in exchange for the American and British rights under its patents, but I am glad to be able to state that the German company has no control over, or interest in, either the American or British company, and I regret if any other meaning has been read into my "article, and if any harm has been done ifo the B.T.H. Co. thereby. I am also able to state that the A.E.G. has no control over the electric lamp business in this country, but, on the contrary, by reason of British patents it was obliged to purchase from British companies all such lamps as it sold here.' " ,Tbe National Electrical'and Engineering Co., of Malcolm Buildings, Wellesley Street West, Auckland (J.. Allum A.M.1.E.E., Auckland -nianager, with branches throughout New Zealand), are the New Zealand agents.for. the General Electric Co. of U.S.A.', and the British Thomson-Houston Co., of 1 :Kuguy,, England.