H.—22.

110

particular branch of our business taken in hand in the same way would give the same results. It takes some time to break down prejudices and create a demand such as will enable the cost of manufacture to be reduced to a minimum. This can only be done by a judicious protective tariff, which will give the local manufacturer the command, to some extent, of the trade. We have, &c, • Scott Baos.

Report of Association for promoting Local Industries. Report No. 6.—Iron and other Metal Manufacturing Trades.

No. 133. Evidence of Mr. Henry Waitb, Tinsmith, before Messrs. Commissioners Tinne and Burns, at Auckland, 30th April, 1880. My name is Henry Waite. lam a tinsmith. I have been in New Zealand sixteen years. I was not aware, until receipt of letter from the Commissioners, that tinsmiths' fittings were free, as up to the present time I have been charged the duty on any goods purchased from the importer. I think if a heavier duty on tinware than 15 per cent, were imposed it would not increase the cost of the article to the consumer, but would have the effect of stopping the importation and sending the trade to purchase from the manufacturers of tinware. I have introduced machinery into the manufacture of tinware. When I commenced business I paid the men ss. per day wages; now I pay 10s. per day, and have reduced the price of tinware about 200 per cent. The object of asking for an increase of duty is to stop importation, as the importer gets a higher profit by importing, while the consumer does not get any benefit by purchasing the imported article—in fact, the consumer gets a better article manufactured in the coloDy at the same price as the imported article; and, were the importation stopped, there is sufficient competition in the trade to prevent the consumer being overcharged. Henry Waite, Manufacturing Tinsmith.

No. 134. Evidence of Mr. Georo-e McCatjl, Tinsmith, before Mr. Commissioner A. J. Burns, at Grahamstown, 13th May, 1880. My name is George MoOaul, I have been nineteen years in New Zealand. My trade is that of a plumber and tinsmith, at which I am at present employed in Grahamstown. I can compete with the ordinary tinware—in fact, have stopped the importation of the ordinary tinware ; therefore I hope the tariff on this will not be disturbed. But at present lam unable to compete with the importation of stamped tinware, because the freight and charges upon these goods is very small, owing to the small bulk into which they pack. If another 10 per cent, -duty was imposed upon these goods, now that I have got machinery for making them, I could stop the importation, and eventually the consumer could procure or purchase these articles at a cheaper rate than now. These remarks apply to galvanizediron buckets, tubs, and baths. lam procuring the machinery for making these goods. G-EOEGE McCaTJL.

Article. Bate of Duty under existing Tariff. Eate of Duty Recommended. 'ron buckets and tubs "ron staples, standards, straining-posts, and apparatus ... galvanized sheet-iron (plain) Galvanized sheet-iron (corrugated) 3-alvanized tiles, ridging, guttering, and spouting iron safes, strong-room doors ... [inware (plain) Cinware (japanned)... Din ware (stamped) ... tVeighing-machines... 5inc (sheet) 5inc (manufactured) 10 per cent. Is. per cwt. >) !> >) )' 20 per cent. Is. 6d. per cwt. Free of duty Is. per cwt. 10 per cent. 20 per cent. 15 per cent. 20 per cent. 10 per cent. )) )) S> 5J 5J >> v ;? J) 5> Free of duty 15 per cent. 3) J) Is. per cwt., oilO per cent. Free of duty Ixles, axle arms and boxes i.Veighbridges for carts Manufactured iron for bridges, wharves, jetties, patent slips jamp-posts L/amps and lanterns... iivets for boilers Machinery for agricultural purposes, for boring, planing, punching, sawing, shearing, turning, crushing, for mills and looms, wool and hay presses 'umps and other apparatus for raising water toilers ... iteam-engines (except portable threshing) ... cranes, capstans, windlasses ... ;> Free of duty 20 per cent. 15 per cent. 20 per cent. )) 10 per cent. Is. per cwt. Free of duty Free of duty 10 per cent. 3J 20 per cent. 15 per cent. 20 per cent. J) )) ))