H.—22

122

"When the chrome reefs are being worked it is highly probable that a further industry will be started in the conversion of the chrome ore into the bichromate of potash, chromate of lime, and other products of chrome used in the arts and manufactures, for which we have all the necessary raw material in the district. I shall be happy to give you further information if required. I have, &c., T. W. Hacket.

COEK. No. 154. Mr. E. Dxttton to the Chamber of Commerce, Auckland. Gentlemen, — Upper Queen Street, Auckland, 7th April, 1880. In reply to the invitation re local industries, I have much pleasure, on behalf of the corkcutting trade, in suggesting that the tariff: be rearranged so as to read 25 per cent, on all corks and articles manufactured out of the corkwood or bark, the latter to come, as at present, free. If this was carried out, I believe it would facilitate the trade and do a great deal of good to the colony. I have, &c, E. Dutton.

No. 155. Mr. E. Button to Mr. Thomas Peacock, Mayor of Auckland. Sic, — Queen Street, Auckland, 17th April, 1880. In reply to invitation re local manufactures, I would suggest, on behalf of the cork-cutting trade, for the further development of it, that the tariff should be rearranged so as to read 25 per cent, on corks and all articles manufactured out of the raw material imported into the colony, the raw material to come in, as at present, free. If this was carried into effect, I believe it would be the means of spreading one of the most important industries in the colony. Secondly, that the Government should plant on some of the suitable waste lands of the colony cork trees, as I believe they thrive here very well. At a future time it would bring a large revenue to the colony. I shall be happy to give any further information required. I have, &c, E. Button. -%

Sauce-making. No. 15G. Mr. H. L. Koefoed to the Chairman of the Local Industries Commission. SiE, — Grahamstown, 13th April, 1880. I consume a considerable quantity of the following items in sauce-manufacturing—namely, sugar, vinegar, and various kinds of spices, and by reducing the duty a trifle on the above-mentioned articles my industry would pay me handsomely, whereas now it is scarcely doing so. I may also mention that I have this year imported glass-bottles from England to the value of £300, and I shall most likely double that amount next year, providing there is no duty put on the same. I have, &c, H. L. KOEFOED.

No. 157. Evidence of Mr. H. L. Koefoed before Mr. Commissioner A. J. Burns, at Grahamstown, 13th May, 1880. My name is Harrold Lucien Koefoed. I am a sauce-manufacturer, and have been twenty-six years in this colony. I desire that no duty be imposed on glass-bottles, as such duty would materially injure my business, which is at present very successfully established. I also desire that the duty on imported sauces be not remitted. . » H. L. Koefoed. i- . .

No. 158. Evidence of Mr. Albert Beetiiam before Messrs. Commissioners Tinne and Burns, at Auckland, 3rd May, 18S0. My name is Albert Beetiiam, trading under the name of Beetham and Co., tomato sauce-manufacturers. I intend opening up the pickle-manufacture if facilities can be granted. I have induced a man to come here, who understands the getting up of the pickles, as manager of my factory. I have secured sixty-five acres of land in order to try this industry, but its success or otherwise depends entirely upon the manner the Government manage the tariff. For the purpose of the tomato-sauce industry I have been importing £400 worth of bottles annually. When the pickle industry is added I shall be importing at least three times that quantity. Bottles are at present such a heavy item in this industry that if a tax was imposed on them it would destroy the tomato-sauce industry, and prevent the starting of the pickle industry. For the last four years the price of bottles has varied from 19s. to 13s. per gross in England. Bottles made on the same sample were tendered for two years ago by a manufacturer in Melbourne at 255. for half-pints and 30s. for pints, and this year their agents asserted they could not reduce this price. Mr. Chambers, of Messrs. Porter and Co., was guaranteed by me a market for £300 worth of bottles if he could produce them at a cheaper rate than I could have imported them; but after carefully considering the matter he. declined on the ground that it would not pay. The reason asserted for this was that the experts in glass-manufacture in England are receiving such large salaries and wages that they will not emigrate. For these reasons I beg to recommend to the Commissioners that no duty be placed upon bottles. The Government would materially assist the tomato-sauce and pickle industries if they imposed a little more duty on pickles, as 9d. per dozen pints is really no duty at all, I should say that Is. Bd. per dozen would be a fair duty on these goods, and