W. H. FRITH.

127

1.—12.

prejudice against anything made in New Zealand, at any rate, in (his line. Our architects place in their conditions a particular varnish that must be used on a work. If (hat could be avoided by our architects it would be a good thing. 1 should like to see them encourage the local article instead of specifying a foreign article. Leave the question open, and let the matter be judged by the quality of the material and not, by a name. My varnishes were as good as any ordinary varnishes that came into the country, but our architects persistently placed in their specifications that such-and-such a varnish had to be used. A contractor came to me once and said, " I want some of your varnish, but J am compelled to use a particular make. However, 1 am going to take yours," and he tilled some of the other marker's tins with my varnish, and it was quite satisfactory. I suggest that, to help the industries of the Dominion, the Government should publish a list in one of their periodicals—the " New Zealand Year-book," or a special periodical—the name of every firm in New Zealand making or manufacturing any article for public consumption, together with the address of the manufacturers and the goods they are making. Also, there should be well-written articles by men who understand the various industries —articles in support of these industries, and asking Ihe people to be patriotic and to assist, local industry throughout the Dominion. To Mr. Graigie: At one time a good deal of linseed was grown to the south of Dunedin. 1 believe the farmers would not grow the linseed, as it was out of their ordinary routine. I believe that Nelson haematite is good. When I was making varnishes and paints I tried to get an order from the Government. I wrote to the different Departments, and the only order I ever received from them was for three gallons of varnish for the Public Works Department. To Mr. Hudson: Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co. gave good prices for the linseed, and were satisfied with the quality of it, To Mr. Hudson: I have had no direct experience in connection with experimental farms; but I have been engaged in farming for thirty years, and I am interested in them. I have had no expression of opinion from those who have lived close to these experimental farms; but in my own opinion there is a great, deal to be learned from these farms. So far as the farmers in the South Island are concerned, they do not bother their heads about the present farms. To the Chairman: I suggest that there should be not less than three farms in the South Island—one each in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. George Livingstone, ex-Farmer, examined I endorse what previous witnesses have said in regard to wheat, but so far as the yields of grain are concerned I differ from them. I have travelled very considerably throughout the district, and I say there appear to be inferior crops in some parts. I was talking to one. man yesterday, and he said he had a paddock that would not go more than 5 bushels and another that would not go 15 bushels. I am almost certain that we are not going to have a good average yield. In some districts there are some crops that are very fair. To Mr Craig/e: I think 28 bushels is too high. I am not, farming now, but I have grown wheat for many years in the district, It is not the cost of labour that is the difficulty, but it, is the quality of the labour. We do not grudge the men the wages they get. It is very hard to get men. If you take the industry from Hie ploughshare up to the wheat it takes fully 50 per cent, more to get the work done than il did twenty-five years ago. We cannot get the yields now that we used to do. I think from 6s. Bd. to 7s. would be a fair price for the next three years. It would be hardly fair to put the same price on all classes. R. K. Ireland, Flour-miller, Oarnaru, examined, We are of the opinion that the wheat position as far as New Zealand is concerned is not thoroughly understood, and we are stating our views with the hope that Parliament will recognize in the wheat-growing industry one which is of such importance to this Dominion as lo warrant measures being taken to ensure sufficient wheat being grown to satisfy the country's requirements. Some discussion has arisen as to New Zealand wheat making a satisfactory flour for breadmaking. We think the quality of New Zealand bread during the last thirty years is, with one or two exceptions, a reply to this point. The proportion imported was very small. Further, during the last season flour from New-Zealand-grown wheat has successfully competed against (lour made from Australian wheat. Can wheat be grown profitably in New Zealand? Farmers have replied that it, does not pay as compared to the sheep. We are not prepared to dispute this statement, but wish to compare what the wheat-growing lands would produce with sheep as against wheat. In 1918 New Zealand had approximately 270,000 acres in wheat, yielding about 25 bushels per acre, at ss. Bd. per bushel equal to £7 Is. Bd. per acre, making a gross return of £1,912,500. The same area carrying sheep in 1918 would have produced—allowing U ewes per acre, 100 per cent, lambs, with 81b. of wool per ewe, at Is. 3d. per pound (is this a fair allowance?) —405,000 lambs at 255., £506,250; wool, 8 lb. at Is, 3d. (equals 10s. per ewe). £202,500 : total, £708,750— showing in favour of wheat of £1,203,750. It may now be asked, why does the farmer prefer slice])? The reply is that all the gross profit made out of wheat is spent in producing the wheat. This labour is expended in ploughing, harrowing, sowing, cutting, stocking, stacking, threshing, and carting to the railway. We endeavour to make this point : that wheat-growing supplies work for a larger number of men than any other form of farming would supply on this class of land. After this wheat leaves the farmers' hands at the railway-siding it begins to produce revenue for the railway, estimated at not less than £70,000 by the time it gets to the seaboard. Then comes the labour of unloading, storing, and milling, £100,000; also labour in loading for shipment to the North Island, £20,000; while indirectly many business firms depend to a large extent on the above for their revenue, such as implement-making and grain-stores. Prac-