FOREIGN EMBLEMS

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 243, 13 October 1936, Page 3

FOREIGN EMBLEMS

EMPIRE CORONATION.

RESTRICTION ON SALES. REGULATIONS IN BRITAIN. One of the questions which will be discussed by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, with the British authorities is that of foreign competition in the sale of flags and souvenirs to celebrate or commemorate the Coronation of King Edward VIII. The date of the ceremony, May 12 ; is still more than six months ahead, but already foreign interests and their representatives are active I in canvassing for orders in Britain and the Dominions. In Australia and New Zealand Japanese firms have been prominent, and concern has been expressed by local business people at the appearance of occasional Oriental features in otherwise well-executed designs. Asked to-day whether precautions would be taken to prevent the widespread distribution of foreign emblems and tokens in connection with the event, Mr. Nash declined to make a definite statement, but said the problem was one for the Empire as a whole. He considered that the proper course was to discuss the position with the British authorities before deciding what action, if any, should be taken. Regulations issued by the x British Government in August were framed to meet the situation so far as the United Kingdom market is concerned, and it is possible that similar provisions may be found necessary in the Dominions. These regulations are aimed to discourage the importation of foreign-made patriotic souvenirs and decorations. Some of the regulations govern the rate of import duty, and one of them requires that flags of any country in the British Empire, or flags resembling them, shall carry upon them a distinct indication of tlie country in which they are manufactured. Commenting on this regulation the "British Mercantile Gazette" of August 21 said: "Such patriotism as exhibits itself through the use of shoddy symbols. manufactured bv underpaid labour, working under conditions incompatible with decent standards of national life, deserves no encouragement. The lead should bo followed promptly."