§ 56. Mr. FELLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any licence to trade in this country has been granted to the German firm of pianoforte makers, Blüthner and Company, of Wig-more Street, London, and of Leipzig. Germany; and, if so, if the same will be withdrawn, as has been done in the case of Bechstein and Company, pianoforte makers, of Wigmore Street, London, and Berlin, Germany?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)The answer is in the negative. As Messrs. Blüthner and Company, Limited, are an English registered company with English directors, no licence to trade is required, but the company cannot, of course, trade with Germany and is subject to all the general restrictions imposed by the Trading with the Enemy Acts and Proclamations.
§ Mr. FELLDoes it not rather aggravate the case that this German firm have turned themselves into a limited liability company to sell German pianos seeing that the present is the same as the previous firm and that it remains purely a German firm?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, Sir; I think the hon. Gentleman will see from the answer I have given that, as I understand the case, there are English directors of the company.