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W. T. GLASGOW.]

39. What will be the effect upon our candle industry if they are getting in wax at £d. a pound and we are charging a duty of Jd., seeing that wax is largely used in the manufacture of these candles?— The Australian candles would have the advantage, of course. 40. And then our workmen would have to go idle. Do you know anything about any fancysoap works in Australia ?—No. 41. It is not within your knowledge that large quantities of fancy soaps are being manufactured in Australia?—No, I do not know anything about that. The importation of fancy soaps into Australia during 1905 was £62,000. 42. Would that be for the cheaper fancy soaps?— They would all be included in those figures. That does not seem a very large amount for Australia. 43. Do you think if we raised the tariff on fancy soaps against England and America it would allow the Australian makers to come in and compete with our manufacturers here?—lt would have that tendency. 44. Mr. Seddon.] Can you tell me whether it is true that the duty on sugar for 1905 amounted to £185,000?—£186,000 are the figures. 45. What would be the profit on that when sold by the middleman?—I do not know. 46. I have an extract here which says that the middleman makes a profit of 20 per cent.?—I could not sneak as to that. 47. Roughly put, what, under the present proposed treaty, would be the loss to the colony?— I have already stated that it would be £165,090. 48. Mr. Hogg.] With regard to flour, what loss do you estimate would arise from the abolition of the duty on Australian flour?— Three hundred pounds. 49. Can you recollect about how long the present duty has been in operation?— Since ever I remember it has been Is. the 100 lb. 50. That has been for how many years?—Since 1882, at all events. 51. Do you know whether at any time there have been large importations of flour into NewZealand either from Australia or America?—l think that not long ago there was a considerable importation. I would not call it " large," but-I cannot remember the figures. 52. Then, the colony generally has been able to keep itself supplied?—Yes. 53. Do you think the abolition of this duty would seriously injure or destroy the present industry of flour-milling?—! could only go the length of saying it would encourage the importation of flour from Australia. 64. With reference to apples and pears, do you think the alteration in the duty would injure the revenue or improve it?—The estimated loss has been put at £700. 55. Do you think the importations would be increased or diminished?—Increased, because the period during which the id. duty is collected is lengthened. 56. The Chairman.]'Bo you know anything about the methods of monopoly adopted by the present sugar companies in the colony to control the whole trade?—No, Ido not know anything about it. , . 57. Have you any opportunity of knowing whether the sugar company base their prices upon the fluctuations of the raw material, or whether they are based entirely upon competition from abroad?—No, I have no personal knowledge as to that. I could not give you any information upon that point.

APPENDIX.

Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, gIR _ Christchurch, 13th September, 1906. I have the honour, by direction of the president, to forward the following resolution passed at a meeting of the General Committee of this association held on the 13th September, viz :— " That in the opinion of this committee the proposed reciprocity treaty with the Commonwealth is inimical to the interests of the farmers and producers of New Zealand, and the committee trusts that it will not be ratified by Parliament." I have &c. .. W. T. Pemberton, Secretary. The Chairman of the Industries and Commerce Committee, Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington.

g IR _ Office of the Minister of Lands, Wellington, 15th September, 1906. The following resolutions, passed at the conference of fruitgrowers, held this date at the Odd Fellows' Hall, have been handed to me by a deputation which waited upon me this afternoon :— 1 " That in the opinion of this conference the provisions in the reciprocity agreement between Australia and New Zealand, by which a decreased duty is proposed to be placed upon fruit imported into New Zealand from Australia during the months of January and February, will be disastrous to the fruit-growing industry throughout the colony, and this conference vigorously protests against the proposed reduction in the tariffs." ... . , j xi. 2 "iThat as grape-growing'for wine-making purposes is m its infancy in the colony, and as the industrv'is most promising and Steadily progressing, and as the reduction in duty on imported wme would detrimentally affect the industry, the Government be urged to disagree with the proposed reduction in duty on imported Australian wines,"

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