ENEMY GOODS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10542, 19 March 1920, Page 5

ENEMY GOODS

PLENTY IN DOMINION GERMAN SOUVENIRS AT TOURIST RESORTS. (Special to the “Times.”) Trad© with an enemy country is not permitted. To do so is a serious olfence. During the war at meetings of local bodies, chambers of commerce, industrial and other- institutions, much was said in reference to patriotism and how essential it was in the interests of Empire to deal only in British manufactured goods or at least to refuse to have anything to do with enemy goods. Resolutions were passed and in all sincerity. Importers practically pledged themselves not to stock German and Austrian manufactured wares and probably those good intentions have teen faithfully carried out. Such being the case it only goes to show what immense stocks of German goods must have been in New Zealand prior to the war, as numerous articles can be purchased to-day with the tell-tale words “made in Germany” upon them. “MADE IN GERMANY.” A visitor to the thermal regions seldom leaves without purchasing some rominiscenriTof Rotorua. Articles made of delft with views of the district are usually carefully packed away, and on arrjved at his distant home the purchaser ftiakes, the, discovery that the articles have been made in Germany. Thousands of postcards are sold annually at Rotorua, and there are apparently many thousands yet to he sold—the stock appears to be limitless. These cards with photographs—plain and coloured—of Maori maidens, thermal activity and pictures’ of the sanatorium grounds bear the words “made in Germany” on the space set aside for the stamp. A visitor enters a shop, selects the picture postcards he desires, little dreaming he is purchasing German goods, as the address side of the cards is carefully turned away from him while they are being placed in an envelope. Later he discovers what he has done, and becomes so annoyed that he either tears the cards to pieces or goes back to the shop and has a heart-to-heart talk with the proprietor, but the' satisfaction is a poor one.

It has been stated that German goods ' are arriving in' the Dominion by way of America. If the statement has any semblance of truth it behoves the Government to bring the offenders to hook. ’ ' ' '