§ 71. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, on 4th August, 1914, Wilhelm Strecker, now interned in the Islington Infirmary, held 35,000 shares in the music publishing firm of Augener, Limited, the remaining 1,000 shares being held by Germans resident in Germany, and by a naturalised British subject of German origin; whether he is aware that shortly 539 after the outbreak of war Wilhelm Strecker transferred 20,000 of his shares to British nominees, and has he any in-formation that payment for these shares was made by six months' bills-if so, were these bills met on maturity; and whether, seeing this is an attempt to evade the operations of the Trading With the Enemy Act, he will apply the powers of the Enemy Amendment Act, 1916, to this firm?
Mr. HARCOURTThe facts with regard to the shareholding in Augener, Limited, are as stated. Payment for the shares transferred by Wilhelm Strecker was made by promissory notes payable six months after the end of the War, but after investigating the case and seeing the per-sons concerned, the Advisory Committee reported that they were unable to say that the transaction was only colourable. Steps are now being taken to transfer the shares held by German subjects to British subjects and to alter the constitution of the company so that the future control shall be British.
§ 72. Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention had been called to the firm of Benjamin Brothers, of Bermondsey Street; if he is aware that in this firm there are two proprietors, one, Albert Benjamin, a registered alien, and the other, Ludwig Benjamin, was allowed to be naturalised in December, 1914, under the name of Louis Benjamin, and that this man served in the German Army before the War and used to go over to Germany before the War to do his training there, and that his relations, except his brother, are in Germany; and whether, having regard to these facts, he can see his way to having this firm wound up?
Mr. HARCOURTThe business of the firm in question has been inspected by direction of the Board of Trade and a supervisor has been appointed. I am referring the case to the Advisory Committee for their opinion whether the case is within Section1 of the recent Trading With the Enemy Act, under which winding-up orders are made.
§ Major HUNTIs the right hon. Gentle-man aware that British firms engaged in the same trade are very anxious that these firms should be wound up?
Mr. HARCOURTI have no doubt that that is so. I hope they will be satisfied with the steps I have taken.