EMPIRE TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1690, 5 March 1913, Page 8

EMPIRE TRADE.

THE ROYAL COMMISSION. TOWN AND COUNTRY LIFE. SHORTAGE OF FARM LABOUR. COLLECTION "OF ECONOMIC STATISTICS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, March 4. The f/.tting of the Dominions lioyal Commission in Christchurch concluded today.

llr. J. D. Hall (representing the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association) in a written statement dealt with farming in Canterbury and the prospects of development. Mr. Hall quoted at length an oflicial .-memorandum by Lord Islington oij the agricultural industry. Subjects suggested for inquiry were the establishment of an agricultural college as a centre of. knowledge, research -work, use of light railways as branch- feeding main trunk lines, and adoption of a scientific system' of immigration in both countries. Dealing with the financial question Mr. Hall said that advances to settlers had kept down the rate of interest on mortgages, but in the present stringency there was not nearly enough money. The current rate was' about (i per cent. The shortage of labour in the country was duo to the. dearth of cottage accommodation, and on small farms there was no special accommodation. A second reason for the shortage was (lie dull grey of country life in comparison with the bright attractiveness of the towns. If greater energy were shown in the Old Land in the direction of placing before the country people, the opportunities open to them in the Dominion, there would be a greater stream of immigration. Young

men from towns in the Old Country would also be useful as farm labourers in New Zealand and would soon become skilful. He suggested that a public official, specially trained, should bo appointed to organise useful recreations in the country, to instruct and amuse the people in Ihe country and to make life more attractive. To leave such matters to private individuals was useless, and the only solution was to place it in the hands of public bodies. He urged that with more scientific methods of agriculture, there would be less demand for labour. Ho condemned speculation by financiers in the necessities of life. Combinations of corporations controlling means of distribution; resulted in increased cost of living without the producer gaining anything. The producers were not in a position to ensure their getting a square deal and the consumers were in a similar position. He strongly condemned "gambling in the necessities of life."' Mr. Hall insisted that New Zealand should be represented on the International Institute of Agriculture 111 Rome, and should contribute to that body.

' The State and the Farmer. To Sir Albert Bateman: The establishment of the agricultural credit bank system . would bo of great benefit, but fanners wanted increased knowledge of the latest developments in agriculture. To the Hon. J. R. Sinclair: The State had attempted to assist the farmer, and, quoting as an instance of the weakness of thb system, ho s«id that many farmers did not know of the existence of a staff of veterinary surgeons. Tho Journal of the Department of Agriculture did not reach the homes of all small funnel's. Tho fault was due to apathy arising out of prosperity. Mr. Hall urged 'that' tlin language of the Journal was not simplo enough. With the', present accommodation, his district could not absorb ono agricultural labourer as a permanency. If there was cottage accommodation with agricultural workers' dwellings, tho district could absorb hundreds of men. There were shortages in busy seasons. Sir Edgar Vincent: Are tlioro any organisations importing labour? Mr. Hall: The Sheepowners' Union docs something, I believe. , Sir Edgar Vincent: You. all talk about wanting labour, but ynu don't do anything to help yourselves.Mr. Hall: No. Sir Edgar Vincent: You wait for the Government to do something for you'. Mr. Hall: We always do. Sir Edgar Vincent: Is there any village life? Mr. Hall: I lived for seventeen years in town and then I went to the country. I have ,been there two years, and there i.s no cue for whom I am sorrier than the men I took up with me. After the day's work there is nothing—there is absolutely no village life.

About Savings. Mr. J. C. N. Grig? said that in Canterbury, away from the towns, the bulk of the produce was grown on farms of from 150 to 200 acres, where farmers and their own sons did their own work. For good farming it was necessary to have one man to every hundred acres. Sir Kdgar Vincent: We heard that an intelligent, hard-working man could save ,£SOO by the time he was twenty-five years of age. , Mr. Grigg: That may be possible, but 1 think it is stretching it a bit. I could give concrete examples of men who came to me without a shilling aud saved .£801) out of wages. Sir Edgar Vinoent: In how long? Mr. Grigg: Iu fifteen or twenty years. A teamster can live well and save .£35 per' anuujn.. In reply to Sir Edgar Vincent Mr. Grizg said that New Zealand he thought could absorb 5000 men as permanent: workers on farms in two years.

Sir Albert Batoman: Five thousand men would, cost £500,000 per annum. Could the increased' production meet that? Mr. Grigg: Oh, certainly. Mr. Garnett: You say a man could save over .£3OO in ten years with land costing «£SO per acre? How can your farming bear it and return a profit?

Mr. Grigg explained that the advantage in dairying in New Zealand over dairying in other lands was from <£7 10s. to JEIO per cow per annum. But for the increased excellence of tho milking machine the dairy produce output would havo decreased. In future he thought that there would lie increases in export of fat lambs, wool, and dairy produce. There would be little wheat for export; a lot of oats, but a decrease in mutton and beef. The increases in lamb, wool." and dairy produce were due to the fact that they returned greater profits. The best things for the farmer are cheap freights and cheap liiniioy. Wo have to fear liigli freights most.

Imperial Board of Economic Survey. Dr. Hight (Professor of History and Economics, and Director of Studies in Commerce at Canterbury College) submitted a lengthy memorandum 011 the subject of tho establishment of the Imperial Board of Economic Survey. Ho stated that wise action is based 011 knowledge, and to ensuro a reasonable prospect of success for a project or institution there must be previous accumulation of accurate and reliable data. The commission was the first step in the organisation of an official inter-Imperial intelligence system. An important function of the commission was to organise some regularly workine system of collecting in future information as to the economic state of the Empire and making it ovailablo for' ready use. Ho referred to the imperfect knowledge at present, available, and he cited as an instance the matter of statistics. Tho present position was that statistics dealing with the British Empire are not comprehensive. They are not collectcd on a uniform plan and the method in which they are presented varies more than is necessary. 111 no single official publication that lie knew of are the statistics of the Empire, even in their present incomplete fcrni. corelatejl as a whole. They are scattered tlirouglr several volumes and issued by as many authorities inconvenient for reference by a business man, Government official, or private investigator. Any recommendation made by the comi"iss' n n sh"iiM >»o further than 'nrgim* merely the establishment of an Imperial Statistics Bureau to direct and supervise the eorelation of statistical work rf different parts ol' the Empire. 'Ims institution should be only a part of a scientifically planned mid executed economic survey of the Umpire, This survey should aim at registering in a clnar and ccuvcni-

ent form tho main facts relating to tho present state and probable future of the material condition of tho Imperial dominions. Ho thought that it ought to bo within the influence of tho Imperial ConIcrence to induce the Governments of the Umpire to co-operato in the establishment ol an Imperial Board of Economic Survey. No doubt valuable assistance would be given by a committee comprised of representatives of tho Royal Economic Society, tho Royal Geographical Society, ami the Royal Statistical Society, by boards of trade, and associated chambers of commerce... Members Interviewed. In an interview prior to their departure for Wellington to-night tho members of the Dominions' Royal Commission referred eulogistically to tho beauty of Christchurch and surroundings... Sir Edgar Vincent", in tho course of his l remarks, said that the New Zealand olhcers of the Commission, Messrs. Malcolm Ross and J as. Ilislop, had helped in every way possible, and nothing could liavo been better than, tho arrangements made by them. Sir Eider Haggard said of Lincoln College that it is a most practical institution, and must do a great deal of good in tho community, and the frozen meat works at Islington is an example ofc a very remarkable industrial enterprise.'

Other members', spoke highly of tho local boot and clothing factories , visited by them. - • i

THE WELLINGTON.SITTING. Tho members of,the Trade of Empiro Itoyal Commission are dub to arrive here this morning, aiid will commence work forthwith' at Parliamentary Buildings iu the afternoon, when tho chairman of the Chamber of Cjmmetce (Mr. A. E. Mabin) will present a memorandum and submit himself for examination on any points which may not lio clcar to the commission. ' ' T'ne personnel of the commission is as follows' Representing Great Britain: Sir Edgar Vincent, 10C.M.G'.; . Sir Rider Haggard; Mr. William Lorimer, of Glasgow; Sir Alfred Bateman, of London; Mr. Josepli Tallow; and Mr. Tom Garnett, of Manchester. • Canada; Hon. George E. "Foster, LL.D. Australia: Mr. D. Campbell. South Africa: Sir' Richard Solomon, G.C.M.G. ' Newfoundland: Tho\Hon. Edgar Bowring. Now Zealand: The Hon. J. R. Sinclair. The members of the commission are to be entertained, at dinner by tho AVellington Club to-morrow evening, and cither, on Friday or Saturday (which ever day is most convenient) they will l,e taken for a motor run as far as Paekakariki by the Chamber of Commere. ; '