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bespoke line, but in a factory the labour would be about one-third. Only the leather is made in the colony; all the other articles are imported. Therefore, in my case, two-thirds of the value of a pair of boots goes out of the colony, notwithstanding what the tariff may be. There are certain classes of ladies' boots that could not be made here, even supposing the tariff was raised to 100 per cent.; and all the materials for these boots, except perhaps the sole-leather, would have to be imported. I purchase all my sole-leather in the colony, also kip; but the calf made in the colony is inferior. I employ three hands; they average £2 per week, working eight hours; they might make £2 2s. per week, working eight hours, and six days. I pay them at the rate of 7s. and Bs. per pair for pegged work. The materials to make these boots cost 45.-—that is, all imported; the materials manufactured in the colony cost about 3s. 6d. I have turned out apprentices who should be efficient in about six years. Their average wage is ss. per week, with board, lodging, and washing, at first; and increases, on an average, ss. a year to the end of their apprenticeship. A return to an ad valorem duty would be the fairest duty for all branches of the trade, and is what we desire and recommend. My name is Matthew Boy A, I have been five years in the colony. lam a heel- and toe-plate maker. When the tariff was passed in 1879, heel-tips were excepted from duty; and I desire that a duty of 25 per cent, on heel-tips be imposed. This would only make a difference of 2^d. per dozen pairs of boots, and it would enable me to make these articles, and to compete with the imported articles.

No. 125. Evidence of Mr. J. E. Evans before the Commissioners on Local Industries, Wellington, 2nd June, 1880. Mx name is J. JS. Evans. lam a saddler by trade. I was born in the colony, being a native of Wellington. I put in the following papers as evidence:— Proposed —That an import duty of 15 per cent, ad valorem be charged on machine-belting of all kinds : the duty at present on leather belting being Id. per pound, or about 2 to 4 per cent, on value, while leather to make it pays the same duty (Id. per pound). The effect of a duty of 15 per cent, would bo that tanners would obtain special appliances to make suitable leather for belts, which, with the present small demand, they will not do. That leather for hose-pipes, and also copper rivets used in manufacturing, be admitted free; or, that an import duty be charged on imported hose-pipe, at present admitted free. That harness compositions of all kinds, now admitted free, be charged a duty of 15 per cent.; the material for making being nearly all obtainable in the colony, and the manufacture a simple process* That machine-threads for manufacturing be admitted free. That brown kangaroo-skins for whip-making be admitted free. I intended, but forgot, to mention this morning that the working of the present tariff' of 15 pcl1 cent, ad valorem has been very satisfactory; that more men have been employed making goods •previously imported, and that the cost to the consumer has been, if anything, less than before—certainly not more, although the old stocks have scarcely worked out yet: when that is done, the advan* tage will be more felt than now. I have, &c, J. E. Etans.

No. 126. Evidence of Aifeed Ttek before the Commissioners on Local Industries, Wellington, 4th June, 1880. My name is Alfred Tyer, I am a tanner, residing in Tinakori Eoad, Wellington. I use about 24 pounds of saffron in a year : this costs 375. Cd. per pound in England, and sometimes it is as high as 455. It would be a great relief to my business if tho duty was removed from saffron. Saffron is used by every tanner, also by saddlers and shoemakers, in staining leather.

METAL TRADES. No. 127. Messrs. A. and G. Price to the Koyal Commission on Local Industries, Thames. Gentlemen, — Grahamstown, 13th April, 1880. At your invitation, we most respectfully beg to inform you that we are in a position, as regards tools and appliances, to manufacture nearly any articles required in New Zealand in general engineering, iron-founding, brass-founding, boiler-making, shipbuilding, &c. At present our staff numbers between forty and fifty, most of whom are skilled mechanics in the various branches of our trade. "We, when full-handed, employ over seventy hands, so that at present we are far from being busy. Wo attribute our slackness to the general depression in trade all over New Zealand, and to the large number of establishments in and around Auckland competing for the few contracts offered. Large numbers of skilled workmen are idle in and around Auckland, and applications for employment in all branches of our trade are very numerous. As regards duties on material used by us, the bulk of it is free; but an import duty might be levied with advantage to us and the country at large on many imported articles, and also find employment for a large quantity of the surplus skilled labour. For instance, steam-engines (portable and stationary), saw-mill machinery of nearly all classes, boilers for steam uses, including marine engines and boilers, agricultural machinery, quartz-crushing machinery, and tailings-reducing plants. A large portion of the above is made in neighbouring colonies, which colonies (Victoria and New South Wales) are benefited. Water-pipes, bridge-castings, cylinders, &c.: in importing, tho Government should study to import only articles that cannot be manufactured in the country. A very large quantity of the rolling-stock could be made here at a small advance on the 14— H. 22.