AMERICAN MOTORS

Southland Times, Issue 17794, 26 July 1916, Page 5

AMERICAN MOTORS

A WHOLE SHIPLOAD. INDIGNANT LEGISLATORS. (Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON, July 25. Mr Pearce asked the Prime Minister to-day whether his attention had been drawn to the arrival-here of the steamer Florence Luckenbach, with 320 American automobiles for discharge In Wellington. Mr Wilford: There are 19,000 tons of space filled with motor cars. Mr Pearce asked whether the Government wpuld impose Customs duty of at least 100 per cent, on these German motor cars. A Voice: American motor cars. Mr Pearce: I say German motor cars advisedly, because some of the motor cars, the Studebakcr for instance, are made by German firms in America. The English Government had drawn up a black list of firms in America, and he asked whether the New Zealand Government was doing anything of the sort. Mr Massey; 1 am sorry the hon. gentleman did not see me with regard to this matter before asking the question in the House. I can only say that the matter is being very closely investigated and that the New Zealand Government intend to see that the British people are not prejudiced in the way the question suggests. I cannot give any details now, but 1 hope within a few days to make a statement on the subject. If I can’t do it, one of my colleagues will.