KILL THE TRADE OF GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2579, 29 September 1915, Page 19

KILL THE TRADE OF GERMANY

AND SHE WILL DIE; FEED HER WITH OUR MONEY APrD SHE WILL REVIVE The trade fair recently held at the Milsou's Point Ferry premises, Sydney, was stated by the Bycmey "Sun" to bo a worthy citort to kill .German trade and convcrt tho proud Teutonic boast of ' "Deutechland .über alles" to "Deutschland iinter alles." No effort was spared by those responsible for tho fair to make it not only an attractive, but a highly educational, exhibition, and to'convey a convincing ocular demonstration that Australia is quite'capablo of producing articles of equal merit- with those formerly coming from enemy sources. Unfortunately, tbe fact that the fair, was held at a place whero a llight of stairs had to bo negotiated precluded the possibility tff displaying articles \of any great bulk or weight, such as farming implements, machinery, etc. A section devoted to exhibits, of German origin, the "Sun" continues; is an object-lesson of the amazing folly which permitted lis to assist Germany to build her vast armaments by foisting her goods upon us. No wonder Germans were loud in their praise of our open-door policy, though it must have been evident that they were speaking with their tongues in their cheeks. '

Read and Think! A few figures culled at random from the many placarded notices are worth quoting. For instance, fancy goods and toys imported from Germany into Australia in 1913 reached a total of £182,842, or £510 per working day; boots and shoes, £4(3,090; china, glaes, and earthenware, £241,483; cutlery, £35,000; ribbons and laces for ladies' adornment, £30,000; paper and stationery, £216,205; alcoholic liquors (exclusive of beer), £133,440.- in the same yc-ar we imported 819,272 gallons of dager beer from Germany,, though since th.j stoppage of tlieso supplies practically the same- amount of Australianniado lager is still consumed. Even a small item, such as plaques, reached £9983. 'In tho exhibition is an astonishing amount of disinfectants, all clairiiiug to be of'equal quality to tho best German products. This preponderance of disinfectants is somewhat surprising, after wliat' lias been heard about the probablo shortage of tlieso neoessary commodities. Scents, .soaps, "and eau do Cologne are also in abundance, while a- display of British-made corsets appeals to our -womonfollc to remember their sisters in tlio Old Country w'ho mako those articles while their husbands and brothers fight at the' front.

Our Own Weaith Dormant. To-show how much o£ our natural, wealth has been allowed to lie dormant in the soil until the stoppago of supplies from enemy countries forced upon us tlio necessity of our producing articles of everyday requirement, may be cited tlie case of epsom salts. Before the war practically tlio entire supply of tliis article came from Germany) though vast natural deposits of nmgnesite were lying idle iu South Australia. 'I'Jio Austraiianmade opsom salts aro of equal yiality with tho' best German article, and can reach tho consumer at the same price. Another interesting exhibit is a display of Australian-made wireless apparatus. Everything connected ' witli these machines is or Australian manufacture, with the eole exception of the motors, which are made in England.

Tha Moral of the Fair. U ; Australian-made,, artificial. flowers lor ladies' hats aro beconiing an important industry, and compare very favourably with the best imported articles. Paints and varnishes are everywhere galore. Welsh tinplato warp rubs shoulders with British ornamental tiles; Australian wire netting is shown alongside English rubber goods; printing and envelope folding machines of Australian mako call loudly for patronage, while British and Australian cigars and tobaccoes aro as tempting to the smoker as are the Australian-made sweets' to the kiddies. The moral of tli? whole show is: Kill German trade, and then Germany will die; feed her with our trade patronage, aiid she will revive. It is therefore, of every truly patriotic man and woman, not forgetting the . children, to see that no penny of theirs goes t-o resuscitate tho hydra-headed Gentian monster.