THE FEDERATION COMMISSION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 8 February 1901, Page 4

THE FEDERATION COMMISSION.

(per press association).

Invercargill, February 6,

Af r noon W. D. Hunt (Wright Stephenson and Co.) said that ho had on'v consul red federation as it affected the linn business, if by no other means, free tra le could be got. He knew that much of the firm’s produce was sent to Australia and re-exported, but before New Zealand could trade directly with those markets the volume of trade would have to be such as warrant regular steam communication to other places.

Captain Bussell said that New Zealand would rapidly expand her produce trade under free trade.

Mr Millar said that if South Africa continued so good a market as at present New Zealand need not care about Australia. It was our market, because we could grow cereals which Australia required and could not produce. The freight to London made the trade in grain wholly unprofitable unless at prices ruinous to farmers in subsidising vessels to carry New Zealand produce. He did not think it would work out.

James Callander (New Zealand Limited Co.) said he did not feel at liberty to express an opinion on the subject. He referred the commission to the Wellington manager. W. A. Morris said he represented the bootmakers and butchers’ unions and the Society of Railway servants. About 400 men objected to federation because the colony would lose control and political individuality and had everything to lose and nothing to gain by joining. Industrially it would mean that Victoria would become the home of the manufacturers and wages would fall, while our men would have to leave us for the greater industrial centre, From the agricultural standpoint he did not think federation would provide a larger outlet. With a boundary tariff zone Victoria would supply the whole of the Commonwealth. From the workers’ points of view it did not matter what price things were. As long as they had full work and fair pay he would not grumble. In his trade of bootmaking wages were higher on the whole in New Zealand despite Victoria’s very protective tariff. To Mr Millar he would say Victoria, working full time, could supply the Commonwealth with boots, and under free trade would turn to New Zealand for an outlet. Already New Zealand felt American competition. To the chairman, the opinions he had expressed were those of 90 per cent of the men ha represented. P. L. Gilkson (Fleming and Gilkson, millers) had consideration from his own standpoint. If we did not federate the business of the firm would suffer. New Zealand should federate if it had not to pay too much for it. He thought we had everything to gain and little to lose by federating. He had only considered the question as it would effect his firm. He was satisfied that 90 per cent of the Southland farmers would vote to federate. 0. G. Broad, ironmonger, said that to federate would not make any difference to the hardware trade. He did not think Australian houses would dominate New Zealand trade.

R. A. Anderson (J. G. Ward and Co.) had not considered the question except as the effected our export, and his opinions on that were similar to Mr Watson’s. Mr Johnston, founder and engineer, said that if the duty on Vietotian machinery was removed it would prejudically affect that industry in New Zealand. William Ross, woollen manufacturer, said that his market was in New Zealand, and he had been so short a time in trade that he could not give an opinion on the effect of federating regarding machinery. Mr Ross, enineer, did not think New Zealand could supply New South Wales if a duty was imposed there, and would not be able to do so much longer even if admitted duty free. The wages were higher and the hours shorter in New Zealand, Consequently goods cost more to produce. New Zealand artizaus could do more work than Australians, but the difference in wages could not be overcome. The working week in Australia was 56 hours. He considered that the legislation of the present Government hampered the trade. The commission finishes here to-mor-row and sits in Dunedin on Saturday morning. Innercaegill, February 7.

The Federal Commission closed its sittings here to-night. At the evening sitting Messrs J. Mackley and J. W. Raymond gave evidence, both strongly against Federation. The latter made light of the cry that the oat trade was a sufficient reason for federating. Of those called here four advocated Federation, four opposed, and six pronounced no definite opinions. The commission will open in Dunedin on Saturday morning.