THE METALS QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2523, 31 July 1915, Page 6

THE METALS QUESTION

MR. HUGHES REPLIES TO THE COMPANIES COILS OF THE GERMAN OCTOPUS" By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrisht (Rec. July 30, 8.5 p.m.) Melbourne, July 30. The Federal Attorney-General (Mr. Win. Hughes), returning, to tho attack on the metals question, says'-that tho replies of the companies to his statements, where they are relevant, are evasive. Regarding tho Associated Smelter Company's contention that he wrongly charged the Broken Hill Proprietary Company with certain acts, declares that up to June 1 the Broken Hill Proprietary had handled the same lead which tho Associated l Smelters handled, and the gentlemen who originated the new company are those who were parties to tho'old arrangement." Ho concludes: "Let tlieso companies and all of us try by every means to hack the coils of the German octopus froifi the limbs of the Australian and British industries."

(Rec. July 31, 0.30 a.mO London, July 3CI. The ■ "Morning comments ihat the Mertftn Company is the Government's metal brokers and is largely associated with the Frankfort Metall Gesellschaft, whose American companies are. cornering fho'spelter. The "Post" compliments Australia for her efforts to destroy the German monopoly.