1.—12

XXIV

either from Great Britain, Canada, or the United States. Further, in view of the great national importance of this question, your Committee urges that no time should be lost in giving effect to this recommendation. Scrap Iron. The manufacture of steel castings and bar iron from scrap iron available in the Dominion has become a very important adjunct to the iron industry. In order that' this enterprise may be successfully continued the Committee recommends that the export of scrap iron and steel be prohibited. Manufacture of Agricultural Implements. Prior to the war the iron and steel industry was in a languishing condition —a marked contrast to the pre-war progress of our primary industries. It is a reasonable supposition that there should have been a proportionate expansion of the agricultural-implement industry during the same period, seeing that from 1891 to 1911 some 12,000,000 acres of land had been brought into profitable use ; but the reverse was the case, for during the years mentioned only sixty-five employees were added to the number of operatives engaged in the manufacturing industry. The history of the agricultural-implement manufacture in this Dominion is one of which we have every reason to be proud. Our manufacturers have followed closely and intelligently the needs of the farming community, and many useful and practical aids to tillage are now available to the agriculturist. So successful have these efforts of the manufacturers been that implement-makers in other countries have found it profitable to copy many of the New Zealand productions; and to-day the local industry has to face competition from these copied articles, backed up by the huge financial, strength of the outside manufacturing concerns, with the result that the major portion of the Dominion's agricultural-machinery requirements are imported from abroad —mainly from a foreign country. During tfie war period this outside competition was checked, owing to shortage of shipping and consequent high freight rates, and the local manufacturer was able to compete on favourable terms. The war being ended, the conditions referred to cannot be expected to last much longer, and the question is whether or not the stability and success of our own industries can be secured. Your Committee would recommend, conditionally on our local manufacturers producing implements equal in quality and workmanship to the imported article at a price to be approved by the Board of Industries and Commerce, that there should be imposed a tariff duty sufficient to secure to the local manufacturer a fair and reasonable profit. The Engineering Trade. Your Committee inquired as to the conditions in the engineering trade before and during the war, and is of opinion that it is useless to gauge the prosperity or otherwise of the industry by war-time conditions. The high freights and the difficulty of obtaining machinery from overseas compelled the placing of orders with Dominion manufacturers, and in spite of great disabilities those engaged in the industry performed a worthy part in providing for the Dominion's requirements. The Committee places on record its conviction, that without the capable engineer at the head and the skilful artisan engaged in suitably equipped works, New Zealand could not have carried out the necessary fitting and refitting of transports, the manufacture of and repairs to freezing machinery and shipping, and other essential works. To make New Zealand as self-reliant as possible in war and peace, to develop her latent resources, and to build up a strong and healthy industry providing constant employment for a large number of the people, the Committee recommends that a substantial tariff be placed on imported machinery that can be commercially and successfully produced in the Dominion. New Zealand Wines. A considerable amount of capital has been invested in the establishment of vineyards as well as in the requisite and costly plant for the manufacture and