TRADE AND THE ENEMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16098, 11 December 1915, Page 9

TRADE AND THE ENEMY.

POSITION OF TONGA.

STATEMENT BY PREMIER

NOT DOMINION MATTER.

A further letter was received from the Prime Minister by tie council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at a meeting yesterday afternoon in relation to the recent controversy regarding German trade in the Islands. The letter referred particularly to the operations of the D.H. and P.G. Company in Tonga. The Prime Minister pointed out that Tonga was not a British possession, but a British Protectorate, and as such was subject to a limited extent to the control of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, who. of course, was not in an} way connected with the New Zealand Government, but was responsible to the Imperial | authorities. Mr. Massey added: "1 should like to know exactly tile opinion of the | Auckland Chamber of Commerce a-; to whether it is of opinion Unit it should be made illegal for firms or individuals in ! New Zealand to deal with Gorman persons or firms in the Island.-. You. of i course, know tint the manager of the ' , D.H. An/i P.G. Company is at present a i ■ prisoner of war at Moiuihi : that the j i 'longun Government has given us to un- ! derstand that restrictions are placed upon ! Germans wishing to land in the Tongan ] ; Group; that a receiver has been appointed j • by the New Zealand Government subject ; i to the control of the Administrator at , Samoa for the purpose of preventing anyj thing which might be detrimental to British interests during the present war : and that the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific had been requested to furnish a report to the Governor of New Zealand. Until this report is received 1 do not think anv further action can be taken.'" Mr. E. Anderson, president of the chamj ber, asked : " Are we to understand from , the Prime Minister's letter that it is proposed to re-strict New Zealand trade with longa?" He thought that, his various communication- had made it quite clear that the chamber did not suggest that it should be made illegal for 'firm? or individuals in New Zealand to do business with this enemy concern, unless similar restrictions could be enforced against Aus- | tralian merchants and upon importations 1 from neutral countries. The chamber did ■ot suggest any imposition against British trade in Tonga, but it einphaticallv j protested against the continuance of the j present system, which was bolstering up ■. a»d protecting a powerful enemy concern ] which, it was maintained by well-in- : formed people, included some of the inI fluential German official class whose chief j ambition is to crush Great Britain. It ' was nearly three months since the position I of this firm in Tonga was placed before I the Government, and so far none of the i chamber's statements had been refuted. j Under these circumstances he did not j think it necessary for the chamber to pro- | ceed further in the matter jnst now, and the responsibility of acting mnst rest with the authorities. *He did not suggest that the New Zealand Government was responsible for the existing state of affairs. As Tonga was a British Protectorate it was. of course, a matter for the Imperial authorities. But, he asked, had the position been reversed and the matter been one for the consideration of the- German Government did anyone really believe that it ■would not have been promptly and effectively dealt with! Other members of the chamber spoke in support of the chairman's criticism, and it was decided that a reply be sent to the Prime Minister in terms of his remarks

GOODS THROUGH AMERICA.

-MORE SAFEGUARDS NEEDED.

A letter was also received by the cotmcil from the Prime Minister, in reoly to a communication from the chamber'drawing attention to the " large quantity of enemy goods which are nndoubtedlv reaching us through American channels.'*' The Prime Minister stated that the Customs Department used all machinery in its power to prevent German goods from arriving in New Zealand through any country, either directly or indirectly. In cases in which goods arrived in New Zealand of a kind which had hitherto been imported from America, and which were suspected of being of German origin, they were detained by the Collector until satisfactory proof of origin was obtained from the British Consular office in New York or San Francisco. He would be glad of specific instances or quotations of the classes or kinds of goods of German origin that were reaching New Zealand through American channels. Considering the natural anxiety of British Consular officers to restrain German trado at the present time, it could hardlv be expected that they would sign certificates to enable German goods to reach New Zealand without due inquiry. In some instances goods had been delivered upon deposit of their full value until the arrival of the certificate. In conclusion, the Prime Minister stated: "I think your chamber will see that everything possible is done to safeguard British" interests, and to prevent trading with the enemy. lam rather pleased with the opportunity afforded of showing that in respect of the matter in which your chamber has specially interested itself, the Government has taken such action as has been considered necessary.' The president announced that the matter referred to in the Prime Minister's letter was now being considered by the executive of the Association of Chambers of Commerce, in Wellington, which would shortly interview the Prime Minister. Consideration of any further action the chamber might see fit to take was deferred I until a reply is received from the execuI tive.