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253. Mr. Laurenson.] Then, you have no other suggestion to make to the Committee, Mr. Greig, by which we could introduce some clause that would enable the boys to learn the trade of carpenters and joiners, unless we abolish the prohibition of a premium ?—No, not unless you allow the builders and contractors to take a premium. Then it might pay them. As the law exists at present there are not many boys that will learn our trade. 254. Do you not think a boy on weekly pay would pay you ? —lt is a dead loss at the start. Perhaps a man loses two hours a day in teaching the boy at the start. I may say that a great many of the lads now get with country builders, and put in a certain time with them—and they can take as many boys as they like. These country builders teach these boys to a certain standard. Then these boys come into the town, and a builder is not allowed to take them. He must have a permit to do so. Then the unions rate them up to the very highest earning-power if they come to a contractor and ask to be allowed to serve at a low rate for a year or two. Therefore if they come to you you must keep them at the rough work to get your own money out of them. 255. Do not you think that the technical instruction that is now being gained by boys in the technical classes will enable the boys to learn the trade better? —I would not express an opinion about that. I would not send any of my boys to a technical school to learn a trade. 256. Mr. Hardy.] You would not object to any boys that you had going to the Canterbury School of Engineers, would you ?—I do not know anything at all about that, but Ido know a little about the School of Art there. The Committee adjourned until Friday morning, the 30th August, 1901.

APPENDIX.

ABSTRACTS OP COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED, AND EVIDENCE TENDERED IN WRITING TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LABOUR BILLS COMMITTEE, ON THE SUBJECT OF THE FACTORIES BILL. Telegeam feom the Woollen-wobkees Union, Kaiapoi. Foety-five hour clause in accord with the feelings Kaiapoi Woollen employes. Ist August, 1901.

Telegeam feom West Coast Timbee Company. Factobies Act, 190 l! If this Act is to apply to our timber industries on the Coast, absolutely unworkable. Clause 32 would entail an additional 10-per-cent. expenditure for labour not performed. The whole tone of the Bill is antagonistic to our industries here, and we are unaware of any necessity for its introduction. We request you to oppose it by every means in your power. If you deem advisable, will send delegates to give evidence. The protest is strongly supported by all employers. Please wire reply. 2nd August, 1901.

Letter fbom Canteebuey Caepentees and Joinees' Association. Association having had the Factories Act and amendments under discussion, unanimously resolved that we are of opinion that forty-four hours should constitute a week's work in all factories.

6th July, 1901. EXTEACT FKOM LeTTEB FEOM THE NATIONAL DAIBY ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND. The dairying season commences in September and continues until May, after which period many factories either close for the winter or only have to work a sufficient number of hours per day to deal with the smaller quantity of milk then offering. During the season, however, the work of the factory-hands commences between 6 and 7 a.m., and the work must of necessity continue until the day's supply of milk has been treated in the various stages of manufacture, and the completed article packed for storage. The various stages of manufacture have to be attended to at the proper times, or the product suffers injury, and any arbitrary arrangement limiting the working-hours of employes would result in damage to the product and serious loss to the farmers who supply the milk, or would necessitate a double or treble staff being maintained during the season. This latter arrangement would result in equally certain deterioration in quality as former, and would besides double or treble the cost of manufacture, the result in either case being that the dairy farmer would have to abandon dairying. There can be no fixed limitation of labour in dealing with the manufacture of so delicate and perishable an article as butter, and cheese in a lesser degree. 9th August, 1901.

Letter feom the Manufactueees of Ageicultueal Machineey. The manufacture of agricultural machinery in the colony is not holding its own against foreign importation. (See figures marked " A.") Proposed Factories Bill would enhance cost of manufacture. Manufacturers would naturally advance their prices where it was possible to do so. Farmers would have to pay more for their implements. This would react against local manufacturers and in favour of importers. Every advance in cost and in selling-price would bear fruit in increased importation and reduced local production. Eeduced production would add still further to cost, and so hasten the ruin of the local trade.