THE TRADE COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 247, 8 March 1913, Page 5

THE TRADE COMMISSION.

IMMIGRATION FIGURES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Friday. Giving evidence before the Trade Commission to-day, Mr. Email Smith, UnderSecretary of the Immigration Department, said that from 1904 to 1.012 24,585 assisted immigrants arrived in New Zealand, bringing capital to the total of £09,000. ft cost the Government to assist them £91,000, or £3 15s per head. Had the Government paid the whole cost of the passages it would have had to pay £196,000. Out of the 24.585 immigrants, over 3000 were domestic servants and 4fifl2 farm laborers. The demand for labor was for 801 men, required in various industries, 1804 women and girls, and 218 boys, in all 2941. Out of these Wellington and Canterbury alone required 1673. The Fanners' Union requirements were 3000 farm laborers, 2000 domestic servants, and 200 boys. In all it had been ascertained that over 0000 workers were required. Mr. John Duthio gave evidence in reference to statements made by Mr. Mabin regarding the • New Zealand financial position. Mr. Mabin did not, Mr. Dttthie said, adequately represent the true position. New Zealand started onlv 70 years ago, a savage country, and it was now well roaded, had railways from end to end, high-class shipping accommodation and all the requirements jjf a civilised community. He showed that the indebtedness of the Dominion was set off by the value of the assets and the money lent was well secured and was being employed in the genuine development of the country. THE WELLINGTON SITTINGS. Wellington, Last Night. At the Trade Commission evidence was given by Mr. W. B. Montgomery, Secretary for Customs, regarding the uniformity of invoice certificates and 'the need for a better system of compiling trade statistics. q Mr. W. R. Morris, Secretary of the Post Office, recounted the history of the reductions in cable charges. Despite the drop from 10s fid to 3s per word, the earnings had not fallen off. In 1911-12 the loss on the Pacific cable was £40,389, of. which New Zealand paid £4500. With a steady growth of traffic a time would come when the loss would be wiped out. The Pacific cable could carry seven million words annually, but at present it only took two millions. Proposals had been made by which the charge could be cut down to 2s 8d per ! word. He believed it possible that every if the charge was reduced to sixpence the increased use of the cables would result in the service being efficiently conducted without loss. To-morrow the Commissioners will be taken to Levin, and will visit the Weraroa State Farm. Some members will visit Taranaki on Tuesday, in order to inspect the farming and other industries. Mr. Wickham, British Trade Commissioner, urged the need for ascertaining the country of origin in case of imports. There was no question that preference was given to Germany and America by shipping lines. He mentioned that a firm dealing in agricultural implements who -were questioned why, when the freight from New York to Lyttelton, via London, was 28s 9d per ton they could not get a better rate from-London direct than 50s per ton. Other similar complaints had been made, and witness could not get any satisfaction from shipping firms, but it was said that there was a good deal of competition out of New York. He thought there was sufficient trade to justify a direct shipping service between Germany and New Zealand. The North German Lloyd steamers now traded to Australia, and a large proportion of our imports was transhipped here from Australia. This afternoon the Hon. E. Bowring and Mr. Garnett inspected the woollen mills at Petone, and afterwards visited Trentham to see the King's Prize match fired. A REFUTATION, Dunedin, Last Night. Mr. London, president of the Chamber of Commerce, was asked to-day to express . his views on the statements made by Mr. Mabin before the Dominions Royal Commission at Wellington. He said that Mr. Matin's assertions were hardly correct, because in 1909 the value of exports, excluding specie, exceeded that of imports by £4,818,689, and in. 1910 by £5,494,250.' In 1908 the balance of trade went the other war to , the extent of £1.171,957, but in. 1907, lOOfi and 1905 an annual average surplus of £3.457,378 was shown. As to the question of over-importation, he said that he believed that there was a tendency among traders to carry too large stocks, this state of affairs being induced by large indent importing businesses s in recent years, and the good credit in which the mercantile community was held throughout the world. No doubt if such a condition existed traders would speedily make stocks conform to trade needs. He believed that the assets under the head of unrealised importations on hand would be found to be very high. Tn conclusion he quoted figures to show the satisfactory position of the Doinin.ion. The number of persons liable to pay income tax had increased from 1901 to'l9lo from 10,900 to 33,200, and those liable • for income tax from 5700 to 11.200. The unimproved value of land had increased from £95,000,000 to £175,000,000, and improvements from £59.000,000 to £102,000,000. Rank deposits had increased from 1900 to 1910 from £15,000,000 to '£24,000,000. OUR MINERAL RESOURCES. Wellington. Last Night. At the Trade Commission to-day Professor Morgan. Government Geologist, stated that the conditions in the Dominion were unfavourable for fuel mining and probably onlv 100.000,000 tons of the 374.000.000 toils of proved bituminous coal would be mined. The total quantity of proved coal of all classes was estimated at 101.0(10.000 tons and not more than a quarter of that quantity could be mined. Supplies of good coal that could be mined were limited and probably would be exhausted in 100 years. Chief iron deposits were those at Parapara and the Taranaki ironsand. The examination of the Parapara deposits showed that there was a'bout 22,700,000 tons of iron ore, and there was said to be an equal quantity at the adjacent block. Taranaki ironsand made iron of good quality, but there would be a difficulty in transporting it to the smelting works. It contained titanium Which made it difficult to smelt. Taranaki district appeared the most promising for petroleum, but the yield was not up to expectations. At the present, the jrold mining industry was not in a particularly flourishing condition, owing to the depreciation in value of gold, but New Zealand would be a gold mining country for many years.