TRADING WITH THE ENEMY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 90, 10 January 1919, Page 5

TRADING WITH THE ENEMY

POSITION EXPLAINED STATEMENT BY HON. A. M. MYERS. Referring to the cabled remarks of Lord Northcliffe as to the heed' for delay in relaxing the censorship upon commercial cablegrams by reason of the fact that Germnny is prepared to utilise her organisation for overseas commerce, tho Minister of Customs, the Hon. A. M. Myers, stated at Auckland on Tuesday that there need be no alarm in New Zealand that the country could be over-run with enemy goods now that hostilities had ceased. The War Regulations Act, 1914, as amended by the War Regulations Amendment Act, 191 C, ho said, provided that all regulations made thereunder should in force for one year after the war, or for such shorter period as tho Governor-General might determine. "It is. still'illegal to;trade with Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, or Turkey," said Mr. Myers; "it will remain 60until the conditions of future trade with these countries-are settled, and it is unlikely that any step towards settlement will bo taken until the whole question has been discussed by tho Peace Conference. In the meantime the restrictions governing goods, imported from European countries, or from enemy countries, remain in force. British Consular certificates of origin and interest must be supplied for all goods imported from countries bordering upon' Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, or Turkey. . ...

"The official black list will remain in force, and it will still be unlawful for any alien enemy in New Zealand, other .than one wb.o is also a British subject, to engage in foreign trade. The importation of all goods of enemy origin, even from other British dominions, is prohibited, and persons in this Dominion must not attempt to communicate, whether by letter, telegram, or in any other manner whatever, and whether directly or indirectly through any intermediary in New Zealand or elsewhere, with any person, firm, or company in an enemy' country. "Should trade relations with present enemy countries be resumed at some time in the future, the Government has already taken power under the Finance Act of 1915 to impose on any goods from these countries an over-riding surtax of 50 per cent. For example, supposing- the maximum tariff to bo 30 per cent., goods from enemy countries could be made to pay 80 per cent, duty.' The public may rest assured that trade relations with enemy countries will remain for 'some considerable time upon their present footing." ;..,'. Mr. • Myers supplied the following returns showing the trade of New Zealand with France and Germany during the financial years ending MaTch 31- ,1912 and 1913:-

. Prance. Imports ■ Exports to from France'. Franco. £ £ 1912 1-11,341 91,742 •-' 1913 157,735 .173,201 ' Germany. Imports Exports to from Germany. Germany. ■ £ £ 1912 527,052 246,618 1913 638,239 267,593