The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 222, 20 September 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1870.

One of the most interesting of the Parliamentary papers which the late session has produced, was laid on the table of the House a few days prior to the prorogation. We refer to the report of the Select Committee on local industries, which, although it does not attempt to deal fully with a subject so comprehensive, affords au immense deal of valuable information, accompanied by various suggestions which we shall endeavor to give in as concise a form as possible, prefacing our summary with the following extract from the introductory sentences of the report : — "To attract and to keep a large population, those industries which yield the highest return to the labor employed in their prosecution should first be developed. Nothing is more calculated to attract a large laboring population to these shores than the knowledge that constant employment at remunerative rates of wages is to be found. here. A general prosperity of the labor class implies, in these colonies, where this class of the population is more or less of a migratory description increase of population and revenue, with a development of the productive resources. Low wages and irregular imployment imply emigration to more favored regions, a falling off in the revenue, and a general depreciation of the value of property of all descriptions. It therefore becomes a matter of the utmost importance that, without artificially stimulating high wages, we should yet do all in our power to promote the development of those industries which can be worked to the greatest advantage to the laboring classes, and thereby promote a constant flow of immigration." The information to be derived from the perusal of this valuable report may [be summarised as follows : — That the goldfields of New Zealand extend over an area of nearly 20,000 square miles, and that although the greatest portion of [this vast extent of country has already been worked

Uo a large degree, there still remains a va3t amount of wealth to be derived from them if a sufficient supply of water can be procured, and this necessary element can be supplied in sufficient quantities if the Government can be induced to provide the requisite funds. Silver, copper, lead, sulphur, tin, and iron are kuown to exist in various parts of the colony, while of coal there is an amount unsurpassed by any country in the world. Building stone is to be fouud in immense varieties ; timber adapted for every conceivable purpose abounds ; sand for glass, aud clay for pottery are ready to hand in all parts of the islands, while our pastoral country is of such value and extent that we ought to be in a position to supply leather, soap, glue, and woollen manufactures to an unlimited extent. The question then arise?, how, with all these riches at our disposal, are we to turn thera to account, and the Committee have not omitted to furnish us with mauy sound, practical suggestions on this heai which may thus be briefly stated : With regard to our goldfields they recommend that the Government should arrange for a sufficient water-supply, and, so far as the other metals which are known to exist are concerned, that a reward should be offered for the discovery of a payable tin miue; and that the rich coal mines in the Buller aud Grey districts should be fully developed, money, if necessary, being advanced by Government for the formation of tramways to the various mines. With reference to manufactures they are in favor of a temporary duty being laid upon all imported woollen good?, rope, malt, leather, and soap, and that bonuses should be given to manufacturers of paper, glass bottles, beet-root sugar, and wool bales, and that, with a view to developing the manufacture of fine flannels aud cloths, the introduction of Welshmen and Yorkshiremeu, who have been brought up to the trade, should be encouraged. In order to afford the youth of the colony an opportunity of obtaining technical education, they advise tbe establishment of scholarships of £30 a year to be placed at the disposal of the Superintendents of the various provinces in order to provide means for the gratuitous education in technical science of lads who are desirous of benefitting thereby. We are glad to learn that our Nelson cloth mauufactory has not escaped the notice of the Committee and have much pleasure in giving publicity to their mention of it as contained in the following | paragraph :— " The Committee call special attention to the interesting communication of Messrs. Webley & Sons, cloth-manu-facturers, Nelson, and suggest that their recommendations should receive the careful consideration of the Government, more especially with a view to providing protection for Colonial trade marks." The flourishing state of this factory, which has worked its way up to its present position in the face of many difficulties, is a practical comment upon the suggestion of the Committee that a protective duty should be levied on imported woollen manufactures, showing as it does that persevering eaergy, and not the unhealthy hot-house forcing of protection, is what is wanted to ensure success in such an undertaking. We have only been able to take a hasty glance at this valuable report to-day, bit shall returu to the subject another time.