§ 91. Mr. COWANasked the President or the Board of Trade whether the Board of Trade have found that the War Emergency Enactments did not give him sufficient powers to order the winding-up of Minimax Consolidated, Limited, a concern enemy-owned, controlled and managed from Berlin; whether he could indicate in what direction the Board's powers were insufficient; whether the company in fact is now being voluntarily wound up; and whether any strengthening of the existing enactments is contemplated?
§ Mr. PRETYMANNo order has been made; to wind up the business of Minimax Consolidated, Limited, under the Trading With the Enemy Acts, because the investigation into the company's affairs showed that no business was carried on in this country, the company's operations having been conducted entirely in Germany. The only assets in this country consisted of the equity of redemption of certain shares in Minimax, Limited, which were pledged to secure debts, and in these circumstances no objection was raised to the company being placed in voluntary liquidation.
§ 92. Mr. COWANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a Minimax concern in Berlin is announcing in neutral countries that certain assets of Minimax Consolidated, comprising an interest in the German manufacturing Minimax concern and in Minimax, Limited, of London, had been transferred to the satisfaction of the Berlin Courts to a certain W. Graaff, of Berlin, in November, 1914; and whether he could state the extent of the interest of Minimax Consolidated, Limited, in Minimax, Limited, and the extent of any other direct or indirect interests of enemy subjects in Minimax, Limited, including enemy interests, if any, held in trust by shareholders or others, or held for the time being by the Public Trustee?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI am not aware of any announcement that Minimax Consolidated had transferred an interest in Minimax, Limited, to W. Graaff, of Berlin, and no such transfer has been made. I have seen a judgment of a Berlin Court in which it was stated that Minimax Consolidated had transferred its interest in two undertakings in Germany to W. Graaff. If these transactions have 167 taken place they have been carried out in Germany and I have no reason to believe that anyone in this country was in any way concerned. Minimax Consolidated holds no shares in Minimax, Limited, but is at present entitled to the eqiuty of redemption in 15,009 shares pledged to secure loans which will be sold by the Receiver appointed by the Court. Twelve thousand additional shares are held by enemies and will be sold by the Public Trustee.