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1449. We have been told here—l think by Mr. Burt—that freights have been considerably less to Australia for heavy lines than to New Zealand—that frequently ships loaded with a very light cargo have required pig-iron as stiffening, and have broughc it out here for nothing, and very considerable quantities at ss. a ton : have you been aware of than ?—I have not. I might say that, in view of this matter coming on, I have made inquiries from an agent in the hardware trade who has recently come from Victoria, and he informs me that there is very little difference. We compared rates, and, as a matter of fact, there is very little difference. 1450. It is in view of the recurrence of that circumstance that the manufacturers in Australia would be put on a very much better level than in New Zealand : what is your opinion ?—Of course, I can only go from my experience here, and I think it is a long while since pig-iron came into Dunedin as ballast. 1451. I speak of Australia?—Of course, I do not know what is done there. 1452. Mr. Burt says that it has frequently come here ? —I cannot say that I have heard of it. 1453. You said that the Greymouth coke is as good as the Newcastle coke ? —Yes ; it is better than any Newcastle coke I have used. 1454. And yet Newcastle costs about 4s. to ss. a ton more, I think you said : is that so?—lf you want the exact figures I can tell you. I think it would be about 4s. more. 1455. Why do so many manufacturers in New Zealand import Newcastle coke, seeing that it costs so much more than the Greymouth coke ?—lt has yet to be proved to me that they do. 1456. Then, you think the manufacturers who are importing it here are making a decided mistake, and against their own interests ?—All I can say is I would not use it. 1457. Are you aware what the hours are in Australia?—-Not exactly. 1458. It has been stated here that the hours are nine a day : is that so ?—I could not say exactly. I know they make a great feature of their eight-hours celebration. Wages are higher there than here at present. 1459. What is the reason for that, do you think?— Owing to the general prosperity of the trade. 1460. Has the Court of Arbitration anything to do with it ? —No; I think it is the general prosperity of the trade. 1461. Do you think that, with the organization we have in New Zealand, wages will recede at all ?—You mean were we left out of the Commonwealth ? 1462. Yes? —I think they will recede a little. 1463. Do you think there is any possibility of wages increasing on the other side under federation ?—-That is a very big question ; I cannot answer it. 1464. Keferring to coke again, would it surprise you to find that we imported from Australia last year 946 tons ?—I would not be surprised to hear that. 1465. Well, I think it must be assumed by some manufacturers in the colony that the Newcastle coke is superior to the Greymouth coke, and that in itself would constitute an advantage to the Australians as against our manufacturers?—l can only go by my own experience. 1466. You think that under federation we would all be placed on an equal footing—that is to say, we could compete against Australian manufacturers ?—Of course, it would be a matter of time. Some industries might have to go to the wall altogether. That would apply to the Australians too, but time will rectify that sort of thing. 1467. Your principal item of manufacture is cooking-stoves ?—Yes. 1468. Do you think you could manufacture cooking-stoves and export them to Australia, and manage to pay the freight, and hold your own against their larger concerns ?—Yes ; as I said before, if we had the same conditions. 1469. I am not assuming we would have the same conditions : first of all, wages would be higher? —We must have the same conditions, otherwise we could not do it. 1470. You believe in federation if we had equal conditions ?—Yes, broadly speaking. 1471. And, if not, you think it would be a mistake?—l am not prepared to say. 1472. And, from a manufacturer's point of view, that our industries would not suffer?—l do not say that our industries would suffer, though some of them might. 1473. Mr. Beauchamp.] Are you the sole partner in your business?— No. Mr. Shacklock, sen., is unwell, or he would have been here to-day. 1474. Do his views agree with yours on this subject ?—I do not represent him in the views I am giving. They are my own views. 1475. You might not feel disposed to let us know what your father thinks on the subject ?— My father is not in good health, and he really has not discussed the subject. 1476. Have you done any business in Australia in your manufactures ? —ln only about three instances, where people went from here over to the other side. Things were good at the time, and they insisted on having some of our productions no matter what it cost them. 1477. What is the present duty on ranges here?—2o per cent. 1478. I suppose you know that Australian-manufactured ranges have been imported into this colony? —I have not seen any in New Zealand 1479. The ranges of a firm named Ward in Sydney—l have seen them in several cities. Have you come into competition with Australian-manufactured ranges in Dunedin?—No. 1480. Assuming that what I have said is correct, and these Australian ranges are paying a duty of 20 per cent., does not that seem to indicate the probability that under free-trade we would have some severe competition from kindred associations to yours in Australia?—No, I do not think so. If the conditions were the same I think we could compete. 1481. With respect to the character of the politicians whom we would be likely to get to represent us in the Federal Parliament, do you hold any decided views on that subject?— No. I think we would get equally as good men as we get now. The people would have the same say in regard to the Commonwealth as they have now. J 2—A. 4.