TRADING WITH GERMANY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 143, 19 June 1922, Page 5

TRADING WITH GERMANY.

UNDERCUTTING ENGLAND. A SCEPTICAL COMMISSIONER SYDNEY, June 18. Referring to the re-opening of Australian markets to German goods, Mr. Graham, ex-president, at the annual dinner of the Commercial Travellers' Association, urged the meeting to regard the date of this re-opening in the light of August 4. 1914. "If we deal with Germany," he proceeded, "let it be only under compulsion." Mr. Simpson, British Trade Commissioner, declared himself sceptical about the ability of Germans to undercut British or Australian goods on their own markets. He had had experience on the resumption of English trade with Germany, and of the repudiation of contracts by German firms who had quoted ridiculously low rntes. Their excuse was inability to obtain export licenses, but this later proved to be untrue. He

thought that the legislation passed by the Federal Government would stop undercutting. He asked the meeting to wnit till August 1. Then, he thought, it would be found that in the main German good were not competitive with British.—(A. and N.Z. GOODS THROUGH BELGIUM. LONDON, June 18. Some German goods are being shipped to Australia through Antwerp, including a few pianos and toys, and machinery for Victoria's bricquetting plant, .which is being shipped in instalments under special license from the Commonwealth Government.— (A. nnd N.Z.)