“MADE IN GERMANY.”

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 678, 5 March 1903, Page 22

“MADE IN GERMANY.”

DISHONEST TRADE PRACTICES.

The Customs authorities of New Zealand recently intercepted and confiscated, Oh arrival at various ports here, consignments of cigarettes, packed so as to, resemble the famous Vanity Fair brand. These goods were being imported from Germany—in fact, a previous consignment had. been landed and placed on the market —end on its being shown 10 the satisfaction of the Customs department that ibe packages were coloured imitations of the ' fragrant Vanity Fair ” prompt measures were triken for the confiscation of importations. The exposure is one Unit will tend to increase the prejudice against Soods “ made in Germany.'' these mebods of some foreign manufacturers are most reprehensible, .and., it is p be hoped that no New Zealand trader w; 11 either be duped by these iinscrupulpus ■ persons or will connive at their ways of doing business. It was 1 a most daring idea to pirate the cover.of a brand of cigarettes that have been sold in New Zealand since 1873, Mid which are protected under the Trade Marks Registration law • but,, thanks to tfij® acumen and. vigilance of the Customs officials,, the; public, are protected from having an inferior article foisted upon them, and at. the •, same time the pro - prietors of Vanity Fair cigarettes have BOt been robbed of the great reputation they have gained or of the legitimate profits of their enterprise. It is only recently that Mr Justice Williams gave one of the most full and clear decisions ever given in a trade mark case, in favour of the proprietors of the Vanity Fair cigarettes against a Southern manufacturer, wherein he stated “ Knowing that , the fragrant Vanity Fair cigarettes had a great reputation he used a wrapper similar, to the Vanity Fair wrapper, with the intention of imitating the plaintiff’s get-up. in order that the demight be mistaken for the goods of the plaintiffs, ■. And now we have a similar case “ inadc in Germany.” This is proof of the high quality of Vanity Fair' cigarettes, but it is also evidence of what the proprietors of a trade mark have to contend with, owing to unscrupulous people selecting a favourite brand and endeavouring to foist on the unwary purchaser a low grade of goods to make ’ money.. .The law in Great Britain is stringent in suppressing the sale of any article under a name or guise which might make : ft liable to I)C mistaken for some widelyknown article of the same character, and the Now Zealand Customs Department is to be congratulated'on stamping out such practices.