SWASTIKA CROCKERY

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 172, 17 April 1942, Page 3

SWASTIKA CROCKERY

Intended For Loyal Cingalese

OLD BUDDHIST EMBLEM

The swastika is an emblem long used bv certain people who are loyal to the Allied cause, as well as by the German Nazis, and that is the explanation of how some crockery from an English pottery was found upon being unpacked to bear a swastika on each piece. When a case of goods from Johnson Brothers, Ltd., Hanlev, was opened in Auckland each piece of ware was; found to have been painted with a swastika, and. when a barge on the way from Stoke-on-Trent to Liverpool was in volved in a collision and sank, tlie salvagers found a crate of crockery from Johnson Brothers, Ltd., the contents of which- had been similarly branded. Both incidents received wide notice. The New Zealand representatives ot Johnson Brothers, Ltd., John Rhine, Ltd., Wellington, have received a letter from the English firm throwing light on the English occurrence. Johnson Brothers, Ltd., are unable to explain the New Zealand incident, but are positive that all the members ot their staff are loyal, both to the firm and to the cause for which the nation is fighting, their New Zealand representatives state.

“A representative of Johnson Brothers was in Colombo in March, 1940, and was approached by one of the dealers to accept an order for plates and cups and saucers bearing the religious emblem of the Cingalese,” state John Raine Ltd., in reference to the crate in the barge. “You are no doubt aware that the Cingalese follow the Buddhist faith and their religious emblem, which dates back some thousands of years, is a swastika, designed with Burmese characters superimposed on a religious text. “This, of course, has no connexion with Nazi Germany or Axis Powers, and the order was accepted.

“Unfortunately, while some of the packages containing these badged goods were tbeing conveyed by barge from Runcorn to Liverpool a collision occurred and the barge was sunk. The goods "were salvaged and sold on the market at Home by the insurance company. One of the newspapers gave this matter a write up, as they were of opinion that the matter had some public interest.” From the English papers it found its way into New Zealand papers.