"MADE IN GERMANY."

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 131, 7 August 1895, Page 4

"MADE IN GERMANY."

The Parliamentary Commissioners appointed to enquire into the question of the import of prison-made goods to Great Britain met at the House of Commons for the first time on May 2nd, under the chairmanship of Lord Thring. Mr James Tollit, who had paid a visit to Germany to enquire as to prison-made goods there, was examined by Colonel Howard Vincent. The witness said he visited a penitentiary near Cologne, and a long-term prison at Poltzenzee. Various articles were made by the prisoners The money was paid entirely to the Governor, but the men had a share, being allowed to purchase luxuries. A prisoner could earn about four shillings a month, and might send that home to hi» family if'he liked. At Poltzenzee the convicts were "making ridiog-whips on complicated looms, and in one room there were twenty-four looms driven by a twenty-horsepower gas ongiue. About three tons of whip's were turned out each day. Large quantities of tinware were being made, both Bi--minglnm and London ware. They .-ere making toys, lanterns, wire baskets and other articles. The men were working from English models. German ironmongers refused to sell prison-made goods. They complained that the work was unreliable, and was too common for their purposes. Tho English models were shown to him with an air of pride. There were bulls-eye lanterns, lamp-fillers, wire lamp shades, all of the shapes notused in Germany, arid wnich were being treated as patterns. The witness went on to say that he saw English marks put on the goods. He saw the word "Notes" being put on note-books. On the carpet sweepers were the names of one Liverpool and two Manchester firms, with an English word describing the quality of the goods, and the words "Trade mark." Ho saw no cotton goods so marked. He had seen great quantities of carpet sweepers, which he recognised as prison made, and believed the import of cheap 'dandy' brushes had caused many brush-makers to cease moking them in England, Several agents in that country now announced themselves as concessionaires for prison made goods. There was no difficulty in importing prison made goods into Great Britain. They might bear the words 'made in Germany', but nothing else. Prison made goods had been imported for tne laßt twenty-five years, but not more so now than formerly. Replying to Lord Thring he said his visit was not really permissible. There were 1200 prisoners at Brauweiver, and they made about 2500 dandy brushes a week. Some of the whips were wrapped in paper printed in the prison with the English words. To Colonel Bridgn.an he Btated that he saw none of the hardware goods on sale in iron- | mongers shops in Germany.