TRADE WITH THE ENEMY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15728, 23 October 1916, Page 7

TRADE WITH THE ENEMY.

ALLIES' POWERFUL WEAPON

THE - BLACK LIST."

An exhaustive report on the measures taken by the Imperial and Allied Governments to stifle enemy trade has been prepared bv tho Attorney-General (the Hon. A. L. Hcrdman). After describing the various methods of isolating the enemy, adopted in connexion with oversea trade, he sets out in detail the precautions taken as far as New Zealand is concerned. These include tlvj following:—

It is an offence to trade with any person or body of persons resident or carrying on business in enemy territory.

Trading with any company or firm carrying on business elsewhere than in the British Dominions is prohibited if that company or firm has its chief place of business in enemy -territory. No person ran import "oods from any country other tnan tne United Kingdom or British possessions or territory in the military occupation of the British Government, or from France, or the United States, or Japan, without a license from the Comptroller of Customs.

If any person, firm, or company is carrying on business in New Zeafand for the benefit, of alien enemies resident out of New Zealand, that firm, person, or company may he declared an enemy with whom 110 person shall trade except under a license issued by tho Attornev-General.

Everyone carrying on business in New Zealand and having any correspondent outside the British Dominions must make a return yiving particulars of the business of that rorrospondent. It is an offence ;o communicate through the medium of the post office Or' otherwise with any person carrying on business in enemy territory. The Postmaster-General is authorised to prevent the delivery of postal packets to suspected persons. ' The Attorney-General may prohibit tho use of the name of .111 enemy in connexion with any business carried on in New Zealand. No company can be incorporated in Now Zealand if an enemy, op alien enemy who is not a British subject, or fti> enemy company has any interest in it. "What is known as the Black List," says the Attorney-General, "is one or tho most effectivo means of exterminating German trade. Already tho names of over 2000 persons, firms, ard com- ■> panics carrying on business in Europe, Asia. Africa, and America have been gazetted as enemies in New Zealand, and all known enemv firms who'were in business in New Zealand have been blacklisted. It is an offence to 'trade with any blacklisted person, firm, or company, and it is of course an offence to trade with anyone living in enemy territory. The Allies have-'been busv searching the world for enemy traders", and they are gradually -squeezing out of business every person, firm, or company associated with the enemy, i am not awaro that the black list principle has over been used in a war before. It has arisen apparently out of the circumstances and conditions of the present war, and in making such a law the Allied Governments are merely affirming the principle that during a time of war they havo n right to., determine tho persons with whom their subjects may or may not trade. believe that when tho full extent of tho world-wide organisation built up by the Allies in n period extending a little over two years comes to be properly understood it will bo regarded as ono of the most remarkable economic ' achievements that tho world has ever witnessed, and some day. in the future ifc will be seen that the commercial warfaro so ingeniously directed by civilians m circumstances which wero difficult and delicate materially assisted to gain the final victory over our foes which tho soldiers of tho Allied armies are soma day certain to win on the field of battL\"