PEACEFUL PENETRATION.

Waipa Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 1009, 21 October 1920, Page 5

PEACEFUL PENETRATION.

GERMAN TRADERS RESUMING OVERTURES TO WELLINGTON FIRMS. The news brought back by travellers that Germany is rapidly restoring her industries to a state of stability and output which seemed impossible two years ago is borne out by the fact that business firms in Wellington are in receipt of letters, catalogues, and circulars from German firms soliciting orders. One firm in Berlin, writing to the Electric Light Department, offers electric irons, broilers, coffee, percolators, and kettles at prices 25 per cent, less than the cost of similar goods in America. The writers say: "Because of using only first-class raw materials we are able to deliver our articles again in just the same good quality as in pre-war times. . . . We trust you to be still in possession of oui catalogue made in 1914, the prices of which are just the same, but with an augmentation of 900 per cent. All our pricey subjected to be charged on that announcement, are to be understood free factory Berlin, packing to be charged at cost prices. Please examine our offer thoroughly, and let us know if you are disposed to renew business relations with our firm, which we believe will become advantageous for both parts." The foregoing is one of many business letters from Germany that art, finding their way to New Zealand. The letter (owing to the printed superscription on the envelope) was plainly from Germany, and it was stamped "Passed by N.Z. Military Censor." The fact that a German business letter is passed by the censor does not mean that any business can result from such communications. On being communicated with, the Collector of Customs stated that the Order-in-Council; barring the importation of goods from any of our late enemy countries, had not yet been revoked, and he ventured the opinion that it was scarcely likely that it would be revoked. Only certain potashes, salts, dyes, and delicately-made instruments were being allowed to come in to New Zealand from Germany, and such articles were only allowed to be imported under special permit and with the consent of the Minister ol Customs.

The prohibition is a fairly thorough one. If it holds g&od, no new season's dried fruits may be expected this year from the Levant, no carpets from Turkey, no figs from Palestine, no perfumes from Arabia, no attar of roses from Bulgaria, no lead pencils from Austria. While this is so, England has thrown her doors wide open to German trade, and America (which is boycotting British goods and ships) is flooding our markets with her manufactures.