"MADE IN GERMANY."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16561, 9 June 1917, Page 6

"MADE IN GERMANY."

GOODS BOUGHT BEFORE WAR,

QUESTION OF SALE.

The question of whether the sale of German-made goods should be made illegal, irrespectively of whether thev were purchased before or after the outbreak of war, was discussed at the meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday.

A letter was received from Mr. W. A. Johnston, stating that he understood that the question of "fixing a date after which the selling of German goods will be illegal," was likely to bo brought before Parliament. He hoped that the chamber would assist to combat such a proposal. Ho waa a strong believer in the principle of trade within the Empire, but if the sale of German goods legitimately bought before the war was to be prohibited, nobody should be allowed to have them in their possession. The president, Mr. R. Burns, said if the enemy's cause could be damaged by prohibiting the sale of German goods bought before the war, there would be some reason for such a step. Some people still bad a great deal of stock of German origis that was purchased before the war.

Mr. H. W. Hudson expressed surprise at hearing that there wag a large quantity of German goods obtained before the war still on hand. Ke thought that it was possible that the movement which was stated to be on foot had, as its object, the checking of the introduction of German goods into the country. He had heard that a certain firm in Queen Street now had some German goods that it did not have a short time ago. Mr. E. Anderson said that if a large quantity of German goods were still m stock it might be taken as & tribute to the patriotism of the New Zealand people, it being an evidence that the people would not buy the goods. It was resolved that the chamber would do what it could to prevent an embargo being placed on German goods bought and paid for before the war.