EMPIRE TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1691, 6 March 1913, Page 8

EMPIRE TRADE.

THE DOMINIONS COMMISSION,

OPENED IN WELLINGTON. STATEMENT BY MR. A. E. MABIN The Dominions Uoyal Commission, commonly known as tho Trade of Empire Commission, opened its sittings in Wellington yesterday afternoon. The meiii- • bers of the commission present were: Sir Edgar Vincent', K.C.JI.G. (president), Sir Kider Haggard, Mr. William Lorimer, of Glasgow; Sir Alfred Bateman, of Loudon; Mr. Joseph Tatlow and Jlr. Tom Garnctt, of Manchester (all representing Great Britain); Mr. I). Campbell (Australia); the ilon. Edgar JJowring (Xcwlounilland); and flic Hon. J. I{. Sinclair (Neiv Zealand). Words of Welcome. Mr. A. E. Mabin, president' of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, waited, along villi several other members of the chamber, upon the commission, to welcome the members to Wellington. They wished, said Mr. Mabin, to welcome the members) of the commission, and especially t'hoso of tlieni who came from the Homeland—the land which, though tar away, was still very dear to the people of fs'ew Zealand. They were still Ijound to the Mother Countries by ties of blood, of commerce, of mutual detence, and, lastly, by loyalty to the one Crown, to which they were all very proud to give allegiance. He gladly olfered, on behalf >f the Chamber of Commerce, the set-vices of its members to the commission.

Sir Edgar Vincent said the commission appreciated very deeply the cordiality of tha welcome. They realised t'hat one of tho most important sections of their work would be carried out in tho capital of New Zealand. They felt ccrl'aiii that members of tho Chamber of Commerce would give them all tho assistance tho commission might require to strengthen still nioi'o the ties of commerce and t'ra'do which bound New Zealand to the Mother Country. Mr. Mabin had expressed in eloquent language tne feeung ot loyalty wnicli emanated from the population of Wellinglon. In the 'Mother Country everywhere New Zealand was regarded as one of tho brightest jewels in the British Empire, and one of tho portions of the realm which everybody hoped was most.certain to develop most rapidly and most brilliantly, and to carrv on in the noblest manner t'lio old traditions of the British race. . Mr. .Mabin then read a memorandum which he had prepared to submit to tho Commission. He referred to somo points in the evidence teiideied in-London. Immigration. "The Chamber approves," he said, "of the encoumgeuient ui' immigrants from Great Britain, who will bccome producers—particularly the furthering oi any scheme having in view tho immigration of young 'people. The immigrant most desired is the farmer and farm labourer'. There is a never-ceasing cry from the agricultural community lor labourers, and during harvest time and shearing the position beoomes very acute. We no not, nowever, require a class of worker which can only find employment during tho summer, and which has to remain idle during the rest of tho year, but iu bushfalling, fencing, stumping, and. roadmaking, there are avenues of work which will alt'ord employment during the winter months. It would be wise, however, to make provision so that small holdings are available in all country districts lor tho agricultural labourer, so that ho can make a home for himself, and where he can occupy any spare time profitably. Workers in all the primary industries are mire of steady employment all tho year round, and their ranks can ba added to without creating a surplus of labour, and the productiveness of the Dominion can at the same timo be materially increased.. There is a shortage of labour, male ami female, iu nearly all factories and industries, and there is a call tor young, capable men and women who aro ready to adapt themselves to colonial life."

Jlr. Jl.ibin read letters from the secretary of Uio Wellington Woollen Jlanulacttivinjf Company, Ltd., and from the secretary of ,S. lvirkpatrick and Co., Ltd., filing forth tlwir difficulties in obtaining boy and girl labour. The latter firm sb.ted that they had lost sonic of their product, and had to reduce their output through being unable to procure suitable workers. Briton's Preferred. "A portion of Great Britain's surplus population should be carefully and Uisci'iniinakly directed to these shores," said Jlr. -Mabin. "We prefer our own nationality to any other, and we want these lands peopled by our own stock, though the other European nationalities .whom we have hero are good colonists, and become attached to our form of Government and to the Crown. The intending immigrant should know faithfully the resources and prospects of 'l'lio' prospects should not be over-boomed, ami he should not bo led to think prosperity awaits him without labour.. livery possible step should be taken to secure that what capital he has is conserved for his use in the Dominion. Tears ago the Dominion had immigration depots at each large centre where the new arrival could iind acoonimoilatiou until he found his footing in the new land, and though the Government can now possibly find some other method of attaining the i object sought, yet the idea was not a bad one. Jsy organisation through the Government Immigration Department, tho Farmers' Union, and the Labour Bureau, in the direction of securing that'details of tho nature of the work sought by tho immigrants we"e supplied to New Zealand immediately on the departure of the steamer from London, employers of labour, the Farmers' Union, and the labour agencies could then take steps to place immigranta in suitable positions. But, after nil, 1 the immigrant on arrival would have to be 'sighted' by the intending, employer, or his agent, and provision should be made lor Ihis purpose. The Government Department might have certiiieated lodginghouses or hotels where the immigrant on arrival could board, probably at the expense of the Dominion, and where there would be 110 necessity for him to spend liis limited -esources until he had found employment.

"The Labour organisations, however, do not favour immigration. They fear that if the present shortage of labour ceased, wages would fall. This is, however, ti narrow view, and not a national one, and not necessarily true. This land is not peopled as it, ought to be. We do liot desire to see it over-crowded, but we must produce enough to nay for our imports ond our interest. obligations,' and must become productive to even pay our way. Wo are not doing this at present by several millions per. annum. To increase our production, we require to get more out of the land, ond this can'only'.b? done by putting more work into the land, by smaller holdings, by closer atld more scientific farming, coupled with a careful expenditure of Government. and municipal moneys. Tho natural corollary is the opening up of the unoccupied lands of the ■Dominion for settlement, and the roadinj of tho backblocks as against expenditure in the shape of cosily Government, harbour, and municipal works, wiiic.lv may bo ahead of a small Dominion: and cause heavy outgoings in the shape of interest charges in some eases with 110 'adequate corresponding return." - . Capital and Lsoour Wanted. Mr. Mabin said that the D'ominidn had little to complain of in the matter of mail services to Great Britain', . but in cable rales there appeared to be. room for reduction. Regarding Professor Holmes's suggestion that certain herbs used by British drug manufacturers should bp grown in Xew Zealand, Mr. Mabin said there would ba no difficulty in growing the herbs named, but it would be impossible to obtain labour lo gather (lie herbs at the proper season. There was room for British capital in our mining industry. The Dominion had little or no capital to spare for what was clawed as an uiH.erl.ain . investment', and they felt sure that in gold, iron, coal, and many other minerals there were undeveloped resources that would repay (he British speculator. . Coal-mininj' had hern proved lo be a profitable industry, but in regard to iron it was questionable whether the labour problem, the limited demand locally, aud tlio inipracticabilitr

of developing an export trade in this commodity would not present difficulties. Iho .Chamber approved of a uniform invoice certificate for use throughout the umpire in those Dominions giving preference. They were anxious to seo the difficulties occasioned by the desire of one | Dominion to give preference to another Dominion or to Great Britain made as small as possible. Preferential Treatment of Foreign Freights. "My Chamber," he said, "has had its attention drawn on several occasions to the fact that goods from foreign lands, lor instance, Germany, aro taken from Hamburg and Antwerp and other Continental ports on a through rate of freight via Ijondon, which is lower than the treight on goods direct from London to New Zealand. This is done by the shipping companies to secure the cargo which otherwise might lie diverted to outside steamers, or cause a demand for the establishment of competitive lines, and may be quite legitimate from the point of view of the shipping companies and also of tho importer of the goods, but such a practice is contrary to tho interests of the British trader, and to some extent nullifies the.operation of preferential treatment by the Dominion to the manufactures of Great Britain. It is difficult to suggest the remedy, but it is hoped one will lie found. "Complaint is rife amongst consignees that bills of lading contain harsh and unreasonable restrictions- by which shipowners have endeavoured to contract themselves out of any liability for goods whilst in their clinrge. It would -be a great boon to shippers and consignees of goods if it were possible for the Imperial Government to act in conjunction with the Dominion Governments, and frame bills of lading suitable for universal use, which would be of such a nature that shippers and consignees could bo afforded adequate protection. "As these commodities are now so much required in agriculture, trade, shipping, and locomotion, and are becoming nearly as important as coal supplies, tho Empire should no longer bo dependent upon foreign sources for its supplies, and every effort should be made, to discover fields and develop tho resources within tho Empire. In New Zealand, in tho J'aranaki district, an oil refining plant is being erected to serve the Motorua Oilfields, from which oil has been obtained for several years past. Prospecting for Ml and boring operations are at present being actively pursued, at Kotuku, on the est Coast, ill the upper Wellington district, and at Gisborne, and if oil is obtained in quantity no doubt the industry wil bo invaluable from many points of view.' Questions Answered. Mr. Mabin was questioned at some length by members of tho Commission. In reply to Sir Alfred Batenian, he said that so far as he knew, German salt had been competing on advantageous terms with the British product lor three years at least, owing to prelereutial freights charged upon it. Ho could not say whether tho preferential treatment had been accorded to it for more than three years. To Mr. Campbell: There were no differential rates outward from New Zealand, so far as lie had beeu abla to discover. On the'question of tho modification of the form of bills of lading, the cnambcr asked that shipowners should have imposed upon them-something like tho full common carrier obligations and responsibilities, instead of contracting themselves out of all liability as they aid at present. Now, when a claim bad to be made against a shipowner, it became a matter of barter and blulf between the two parlies. This was tho causo of much annoyance to the' business community. The chamber desired that a shipper . should bo able to recover losses, against a shipping company as a matter of rght, and not as a matter of grace. Sir Kider Haggard referred to Mr. Mabin's remark upon the large portion of unoccupied land in the Dominion. He asked whether it was a fact that theie was any very large portion of unoccupied land in .the Dominion. Mr. Mabin said .he, could not quote figures but there were large tracts if land ill the North Island which were occupicd by Natives, and this lund was lying idle or practically idle. There were areas of .land under standing bush.in the laranaki district which wero awaiting settlement whun roads wero built to g've access to the land. There would be enough land available to absorb 10,000 a year tor main* years. i . Sir Kider Haggard: 1 suppose you know that agricultural labourers are getting scarcc at Home. I 'think it is right to say that there will bo no large supply of them for New Zealand for the Have vou any objection to peoplo from the cities coming to New Zealand to go on the land? Jlr..Mabin: Not at all. Sir Kider Haggard: I think you regard this matter of settling the land as an important one? Mr. Mabin: I do. , • Sir Kider Haggard: Would I be exceeding your intention if I say that you regard'it as li vital one? Jlr. Mabin: H is a vital one. Sir Itider Haggard: You say that immigrants for New Zealand should bo carefully and. discriminatcly" sought. Have you' formulated any large plan by which population can bo carefully and discrimina'tely sought? ■ Mr. Mabin: No, but: I lmv.e suggested certain means. Sir Kider Haggard: Have yon any large schemc by which this vital Matter can be dealt with in a manner to meet your needs? Mr.' Mabin: No,.sir, I have not. To the Hon. J. Xi. .Sinclair: lie <Ud not think people should hi imported ill such lnrtfG numbers as to allow of a margin of j unemployed workers. . That should -be avoided. , ' 'Mr. T. Garnctt: You suggest that the Government should establish rest houses or hotels for-immigrants here. Do you think the cost of those would be a fair charge on tha Dominion Government? Jlr. Mabin: The Dominion would benefit iu 'the end, and I think the money Would be well spent. Jlr. Garnctt: You take exception to heavy expenditure on harbour works? Jlr. Mabin.: Harbour works have been overdone in this country, and money that has gone to make some of the harbours could have been much better spent in opening up the laud. X'nderstand that we are not without natural harbours, but every little village, on the coast wants to have a port. 1 don't object to expenditure on harbour;, but I do object to expenditure to make a multiplicity of harbours. To Jlr. Lorimer: He would not say that the decreasing exports of coal and the increasing imports arc dun to tho lack of men to work the mines in New Zealand. To Jlr. Bowrinij: If industrious people, caino to New Zealand, they need never be out of work. To Sir Edgar Vincent: His own personal opinion was that, the cable rate of 3s. a word t'o England. was low enough, in view of the fact, that all business telegrams were coded. If tho prico were reduced, the cable might be blocked with me.-sages, and tho service would loss the essential'of rapidity. Other Evidence. Thomas Charles Dawson, of the firm of Dawson and Maudsley, Ltd., indent agents, representing British manufacturers, gave evidence on tho question of double income tax. He protested generally against the imposition of tho incomo tax on British manufacturers trading with the Dominion through an _ agent, while manufacturers who did their business without agents paid no income tar. He urged that the Act of last year should be repealed. Malcolm Fraser, Government Stalistician, read a short statement on methods of procuring statistics of imports. If possible, he thought, tho country of origin should be ascertained, and a uniform system for tho classification of imports should be adopted by all tho Dominions. , This morning tho members of tho commission aro invited to inspect (lie waterfront and to go for an excursion round the harbour with the Harbour Board, and at: 11 a.m. the commission will sit to hear the evidence of the secretary of the board. At 11.30 evidence will be heard from the Industrial Association.' At 2.30 Jlr. E. Tregear will give evidence about preferential freights and kindred subjects, and at 3 p.m. the British Trade Commissioner (Mr. Wickham) will give evidence. A motoring excursion to I'aekakuriki <111 Saturday is being • arranged by the Chamber of Commerce, of which ■ body the Commissioners will be.the guests for that day.