MADE IN GERMANY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15774, 15 December 1916, Page 8

MADE IN GERMANY.

LOCAL COMPLAINT AND

EXPLANATION.

Every now and then a letter comes to the Editor of "The Press" containing a sample of some German-made articlc. together with a complaint that German goods are entering Now Zealand. Yesterday a correspondent wrote sending a leaflet which was contained in a packet of metal polish, plainly declaring it to bo made in Germany. He also sent a hair-net envelope with some printing indicating that the net was German-made. As the correspondent sent tho names of the firms from which tho articles wero purchased, a '"Press ' representative made some enquiries.

Tho head of the fir from which the German metal polish was bought made ail immediate investigation into the matter, and had produced the firm's stock book. This book showed that seven gross of the packets were received by tho firm in August, 1913. and that the goods were imported goods. Tho departmental manager stated tha.t 110 other supply of the metal polish Juid been received since August, 1913, and that all that remained in stock was about two dozen packets. It was «tated that one gross had been overlooked when tho predecessor of the present head of tho department took stock. Tho head of tbo firm from which the dark brown fringe net. sizo 12. had been Dought, produced the entire present stock of hair nets of German manufacture. These were submitted to the reporter in tho cardboard boxes in which they were originally received. Thero were three boxes which, bore the dates 3-1912. 4-1913, and 4-1914 (the numeral preceding the year figures denoting tho month). It was explained that the goods were oraerc*! six months prior to the dates marked on them. The reporter wag assured that since the dates above given none of these '"Made in Germany" fringe nets had been ordered or received by the firm.- Of the particular size and colour of net which had been in the envelope submitted, the firm has nono in stock at present, and as far as could be ascertained it is some months since the last was disposed of. Tho head of the firm said: —"We would welcome tho opportunity to clearly demonstrate to the correspondent who has written to 'Tho Press' that these goods had been in stock months before tho declaration of war, and that wo hold now only odd shapes and sizes. As a firm, we feel very strongly on uc subject of enemy goods, and we can show copies of the letters we have addressed 'to our London correspondents giving them definite instructions that wo are not to receive German goods of any description, whether or not such goods were held in London previous to tho war period. W© would certainly welcome the opportunity to clear ourselves in this connexion with the correspondent who has written to 'The Press,' and we ask for the opportunity as a matter of British fair play. The correspondent who has written to 'The Press' can count on receiving every courtesy should ho care to visit me."