ISLAND TRADE A GERMAN MONOPOLY.

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 86, 9 October 1915, Page 5

ISLAND TRADE A GERMAN MONOPOLY.

I (By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright.) | (Received October 9, 9.40 a.m.) I SYDNEY, This Day. The publication of Mr. Anderson's remarks in the' Auckland Chamber of Commerce regarding the German trade monopoly in Tonga and Samoa has attracted wide attention. KepresentaJ tives of shipping circles prefer to say nothing respecting the supplying of goods to the firm mentioned. They agree that if Australia and New Zealand refused ' to • maintain the supplies, America would readily fill the breach. One adds that America is probably getting a share of the import trade already, and is certainly getting a greater share of the exports than all other nations together. In the last six months an average of one schooner a month has been arriving at Samoa from San Francisco, carrying from four to six hundred tons, and taking away copra. It is ( fairly certain that* the vessels do not ! come empty. ' [The Auckland Chamber of Commerce, said the New Zealand Herald of 27th September, is investigating certain allegations that New Zealand and Australian firms are trading with a German firm, winch still enjoys a monopoly of trade in" the Friendly Islands and Samoa. In a statement on the subject, the vicepresident of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. E. Anderson, said that the question had been brought under the notice of the chamber by a letter from Mr. Neville Newcomb. The writer had stated that the D.H and P.G. Company, whose headquarters are in Hamburg, was still in competition with British firms operating in the Pacific Islands. The company owned, or held under charter, a boat called the Elfriede, which, after the outbreak of war, was seized and taken possession of in Nukualofa Harbour by the British authorities. It was alleged that the company had then chartered the boat Lizzie Taylor, now in Auckland, and was trading as usual with Auckland and Australian firms. "The Auckland firms have been interviewed by the chamber," Mr. Anderson remarked, "and they ask what else are they to do? The German firm holds the monopoly of trade. If the Auckland merchants do not supply them the Sydney merchants will. And they say further that if Australia and New Zealand refused to keep up these supplies America would very readily step into the breach. There seems to be some little doubt as to the charterers of -the Lizzie Taylor." Mr. Anderson added that not only did the German firm continue its extensive trade with islands that were British protectorates, but it still carried on most of the business with our recently-acquired possession. Samoa. He had written to the Prime Minister, and asked him whether he would be prepared to send a protest to the Imperial authorities.]

Advice lias been received that Mr. Roy Kean, fv < fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. D. Kean, of Wellington, has been .appointed to a commission in the South Lancashire Regiment. Mr. Kean left Wellington in February of last year for experience and study in electrical engineering at Home. He served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Andrews and Manthel, of this city, and prior to leaving was in the employ of Messrs. GreenehieJds and Go. Besides being well known in motor circtee, be "ww a member of the D Battery