FEDERATION COMMISSION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 13 February 1901, Page 4

FEDERATION COMMISSION.

(per press association).

Dunedin, February 11,

Frederick Eevan Chapman, solicitor and chairman of the Conciliation Board, was the first witness examined before the Federation Commission to-day. Speaking generally as an ideal to be obtained, he was in favor of federation, but he saw difficulties in the present Australian constitution, which seemed to debar New Zealand from entering the Commonwealth. As a whole, Mr Chapman did not think the manufacturing and agricultural interests would suffer by federation, but he thought it undeniable that some classes of manufacturers would suffer.

Sydney Charles Brown and H, Ehodda, delegates of the Bootmaker’s Union, gave evidence against Federation as likely to do injury to the boot manufacturing industry. The condition of the workers would bo more rapidly improved by remaining outside Federation.

William Hood (President of the Work, ers political committee) strongly favored Federation, as advantageous from an industrial and commercial point of view. To avoid dislocation at the outset terms should be made like Westralia to continue the tariff for say five years. New Zealand manufacturers could hold their own. The difference in wages was not so great as was commonly thought. His views, be believed were not held by a majority of the workers, D. Reid, wool merchant, ex-Minister Grown, said that bis impression from the political aspect was decidely against Federation. The ultimate result would be to dwarf the minds of the people in respect to political questions and deaden their efforts. Representation would have to be by men of large capital or those who made a business of politics. He favored a reciprocal treaty as soon as possible.

Peter Barr, Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, favored Federation because of the opening up of a large market for the colony. We should wait to leam the attitude of the Commonwealth. Any injury to the industries would be overbalanced by the benefits of the larger market. Robert Sladen of the Trades Labor Council, thought federation a retrograde step, putting the colony back ten years. It would take that time for ibo other colonics to catch up in tho social legislation. The efficiency of the New Zealand worker was greater but they had reason to fear competition, because of the longer hours and lower wages of Australia At tho Federation Commission, Alex Burt, of the firm of A. & T. Burt, said that if federation were to take place now a great many manufactures that were in Dunedin would be annihilated. If federation was entered upon it would be necessary for the Government to pay very serious attention to tho question of technical education, which was so.liberally encouraged in Australia. Robert Glendining, of the firm of Boss and Glendining, said that he bad given the question of federation very little consideration. From a warehouseman’s point of view, he did not think that federation would be an advantage, and in the matter of woollen manufacturers he did not think that we could compete against Australia in that trade. Here we paid better wages and worked shorter hours than was the case in Australia. The whole of the nine witnesses examined to-day are connected with manufacturing industries, and opposed federation.

Grant P. Farquhar, leather merchant, thought federation would practically wipe out the boot trade. There was enough machinery in one town in New Zealand to supply boots for the whole of the country.

A. H. Bradger, manager of bargood’s boot factory, said that the boot trade was at present languishing and could not stand further competition. With free trade in Australia America could beat the world.

John H. Morrison, manager of the Mosgiel Woollen Co., thought that wollen factories might benefit by federation, but New Zealand eou 1 d work out its. destiny alone. A reciprocal treaty would he more advantageocs. James 0. Ross, manager of the Denton Hat Mills, said that with the present tariff New Zealand could compete successfully with the world, but competition under a 5 or 10 per cent tariff would kill the trade in New Zealand and Victoria. A. L, Isaacs, manager of the New Zealand Clothing Factory, thought that federation would do a great injury to N. Z. industries.

Robert McKinlay, boot manufacturer, corroborated the evidence of the previous witnesses with respect to the hoot trade.