PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2503, 2 July 1915, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

ANOTHER SHORT SITTING / TO CHECK GERMAN TRADE TWO IMPORTANT BILLS The House of Representatives met at ' 2.30 p.m. yesterday. i Mr. C. A. WILKINSON (Egmont) gave notice to ask whether, in view of ' the faot tliat the Imperial Government \ was oalling for 50,000 men for the Navy, > New Zealand would consider the advisability of offering a contribution of from ■ 500 to 1000 men,- He pointed out that there was no lifeans of recruiting men for His Majesty's Navy in New Zealand, and desirable men could not, unless they were possessed of means, join this service. ' A similar question was asked by Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato). .' Mi. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) gave notice of his intention to introduce the . State Advances Amendment Bill and the Factories Act Amendment, Bill. FIRST READINCS. The Liverpool and Raglan Counties Bill-(Mr. R; F. Bollard), the Juries Amendment Bill (the Hon. A. L. Herdman), the Counties Amendment Bill (the Han. A.- L. Herdjnan), the Local Authorities Empowering Bill (the Hon. A., ;, L. Herdman), the Law Practitioners' : Amendment Bill (the Hon. A. L. Herdman), the Arbitration Amendment Bill (the Hon. A. L. Herdman), and the Settled Land Amendment Bill (the Hon. A. L. Herdman) were introduced and read a first time.

TRADING WITH THE ENEMY t DUBIOUS. COMPANIES - WITH .GERMAN CAPITAL. ' The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN (Attor-ney-General) • moved the second reading of the Trading with the Enemy Amendment Bill. He said that the main object for introducing the Bill was to extend the operation of the present Act beyond December 31 of this year. This was the date fixed for the expiry of the , Act, and it was'desirable now to extend it. Also' 'it was-thought desirable to I extend the scope of the Act to. bring within its scope certain attempts, as disclosed in loiters supplied to the Government through the Post Office, to V trade with the enemy. The law would ; be altered to apply to the acts of' persons trading in any country for, the purchase of goods of enemy origin. The place of incorporation of a, firm would not signify. If a German company, for instance, were incorporated, in Rotterdam, or any other British or neutral "port, the Bill proposed that any at : tempt to trade with such accompany for goods of enemy origin' v would be punishable as trading with the enemy.Mr. ,T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) said he. - wished to congratulate the Minister' on having introduced a Bill which' went a • step forward towards the goal they all desired to reach—the total destruction of German trade. He spoke of the tricks ° of German traders who were now trying to'represent themselves as British. ' Some of these German firms registered in Britain were well known in New ■ Zealand;' and' he wished to know whether these firms or .their agents were still doing business ■in New- Zealand. He would' suggest to the Minister that . he should add to the Bill this clause: i "A body corporate' shall be deemed to ;• be carrying on business in an enemy : country when a majority of the shareholders of such company are German, or are resident in Germany." /Mr. W. A. VEITOH (Wanganui) sup_/'pcrted what Mr. Wilford . had said , about German companies, and especi- ' ally about the British Mannesmann Tube f Company, which had a capital of £340,000 of which only £4500 was held outside of Gennany. This firm's goods - competed with thei Wanganui Steel Pipe ' Company. And yet the Telegraph Department was laying in Wanganui streets Mannesmann pipes for the underground telegraph wires. Mr. Herdman: When were they purchased? _ < . Mr. Veitch: I do not know that,' i Mr. Herdman: If they were bought ; before the war do you say they ought to be scrapped ? .. , Mr. Veitch did not answer this question, but he still argued that it.was not a fair thing for these German pipes to compete with the New Zealand goods, made by New Zealand workers. The Hon. K. H. RHODES (Post-master-General) said that the ■ pipes used T>y the Telegraph Department were purchased in Britain from 'the company wllich contracted for the British Navy. Mr. L. M. ISITT. (Christc'hurch North) said that however; rigid, steps ; were taken to destroy German trade in New Zealand it would be some period before the supply of German goods in this country could be exhausted. Not , only were there big supplies here at the outbreak of war, but the Wholesale people at Home had big stocks. If New < Zealand people refused ,-tiO buy German goods now. they would inflict undeserved losb on many people, and , they would not hurt the Germans, who had long since received. payment. Mr. B. FLETCHER (Wellington Central) said he ; thought that trading with' Germany ought to be prohibited not ' only for the period of. the war, but for all time. Hie Hon. A. L. HERDMAN (Attor-ney-General) said that whether we i oould totally exclude German goods or not ■ would depend on the settlement made at the end of the war. He said that the New _ Zealand Government' were doing all in their power to prevent German goods coming into New Zealand through neutral countries.' In regard to Mr. Wilford's amendment, he pointed out that the English Counts ; had held that companies registered tinder the English law were English com- , panies, and apparently the British Government had decided not to amend the . law on this question. He was in sympathy with Mr. Wilford's motive, but '■ was afraid that it went too far. However, he would give -the matter full con- ■ sideration. He explained what-the Gov- ; crnment was doing in regard to the / Ccntinental Tyre Company. Tho Government had taken over the company , to Wind it up, and had been winding it up since the war began. The stocks were being gradually sold out. Dr. M'Nab: What becomes of the pio- ', ceeds? Mr. Herdman: We keep the proceeds. We hope to put the money into the pockets ofthe British Empire when tjjo war is over. .Hear, hear.) He added that the' money was being held awaiting the- decision of the Imperial Government as to jts disposal. . The Bill was read a second time.

ENEMY TRADING. '' MOBE PBECAUTIONS NEEDED. , The Riglit Hon. W. F. MASSEY noved the second reading of the Regula- : tion of Trade and Commerce Amende /■, ment Bill. One of the objects of the •' Bill, hs said, was to'extend tlie bpern- ' .tion of tlie Act from December 31 until Aumist 1, 19X6. It was intended to takft power to use the machinery of the Customs Department to enforce tlie War Regulations Act. He had been informed ■ ' that very strenuous efforts', were being made to introduce German goods into - New Zealand on tlie plea that they were of Swiss or Dutcb manufacture, and the Government desired to p.ravent such

goods being introduced under false pretences. He referred, also, to a clause giving the Government power to commandeer ships. It had not been necessary for the Government to commandeer ships, but it might be necessary for them to do so if the war continued. Tlie Bill was supported by the Leader of the Opposition and Mr. T. M. Wilford, and read a second time. OTHER BILLS. The Statutes Compilation Amendment Bill (the Hon. A. L. Herdman) and the Enemy Coutracts Bill (the Hon. A. L. Herdman) were read a second time with-, out a word of explanation or debate. Tlie House adjourned at 5.7 p.m. -until Tuesday at 2.30 p.m.