SITTINGS IN DUNEDIN.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14600, 26 February 1913, Page 10

SITTINGS IN DUNEDIN.

A NATIONAL REFERENCE BUREAU. PREVENTING UNSCRUPULOUS PROAIOTION. (arZCIAI. TO "THE PRESS.") IDUNEDIN. February 24. The Dominions Royal Commission opened here this morning, when the members were cordially welcomed by Mr Hislop, Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, on behalf of the Government; by Air Alalcolm Ross, the New Zealand officer; and Air J. Loudon, President of tho Chamber of Commerce. Tho Chairman. Sir Edgar \ mcent, in replying, said they were anxious to hear everything possible in the nature of information tending to improve trade relations between the self-govern-ing Dominions and the Alotherland, and to increase the already close commercial ties which unite the Old Country with New Zealand. He expressed their gratitude for the excellent arrangement and the cordiality of the welcome. The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce supplemented their remits with the following:—"ln the opinion of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce it would be in tho best interests of the Empire that a National Reference and Development Bureau should bo established, with headquarters in London, and with radiating branches in various self-governing parts of the Empire. Completo and accurate information should ho collected by experienced and capable officials, and made available throughout the Empire. The outlying parts of the Empire should be encouraged and assisted to make scientific experiments, having for their object tho increased production and improvement of the supply of foodstuffs, clothing, timber, etc., so that, so far as possible, Brit'sh people, in times of peaco or stress should bo independent of foreign supplies. The extension of geological surveys should be encouraged, with tho object of discovering raw products within our own territories. One important advantage of having reliable information as to the natural resources and potentialities of tho various parts of the Empire, vouched for by responsible Governments, would be to prevent anything in the nature of unscrupulous promotion in the matter of development or exploitation of investors. This factor is of paramount importance, in the light of the fact that the younger undeveloped countries mv.st rely, to a great extent, on the capital from older lands for their legitimate development." THE INOOAIING SETTLERS. Mr J. A. Johnstone, managing director of Wright, Stephenson and Co , m a paper on immigration, said:— The great need of the hour is for young men and women who can mako good use of their hands, and, of course, tho moro intelligent they are tho better they will succeed. There is, and has been for years, a great need of girls and young women who could take up the position of domestic and farm servants, -waitresses, factory workers, shop assistants, and so forth, and tho same may bo said of lads and young men who are capable of doing any kind of farm work. Good craftsmen such as masons, bricklayers, carpenters, painters, plumbers, ironworkers, cabinetmakers, butchers, bakers, sail-makers, harness - makers, etc., are also urgently required here. The yr.se and prudent course for tho young immigrant to adopt in coming to New Zealand is, in the first instance, to accept employment for a few years, so that ho may learn the local conditions and methods. In the meantime, he should bank his capital, and what ho saves on his wages, either in a savings bank or one of tho other banks, so that when he is ready to start on his own account, either on the land or in business, his accumulations will bo available for the enterprise upon which he proposes to enter. Thero is no cheap land in New Zealand to give away to incoming settlers as in Canada. Anyone coming hero, and wanting to go on # the land, must buy it, and give a fair market value for it, and if they do this, they must have the necessary knowledge and experience to work it to advantage, for otherwise it will not pay. Town-bred people fro ii Britain should never dream of taking up land in this country until they havo worked on it in the capacity of employees for a few years, and gained the necessary knowledge. There are splendid opportunities in New Zealand now. In fact, thero were never better than at the present timo for all young people of both sexes, of good character, health, and intelligence. I would not ndvise middle-aged or old people to emigrate to New Zealand unless as parents of families, for the sake of their families, and not for their own sakes." In answer to the Commission, Mr Johnstone said that he thought that the rate.of immigration from England ehould be increased. The supply of domestic servants fell very short of the demand Ho fhould say that the Government should take the entire responsibility. There was a very large opening for immigrants here, "in proportion, they wanted them as much as Canada; no land was given away here. In his opinion, ho thought young people should be brought here; they wished people for the land, but there were plenty of openings in the cities as well. There was a g( ._ ,sj ema »d for artisans. He would like to see them come here between the ages of 16 and 20. The men who were on the land were the most prosperous class in the Dominion. This was tho most trying year in experience. They could not get farm hands. He considered immigration in the interests of the Dominion. THE FROZEN AIEAT TRADE." Air Johnstone, in a valuable paper on tho frozen meat industry, summed up as follows:—"I think that if the four conditions which I shall enumerate are observed, we can safely leave the matter of the wider distribution of our meat by retail shops, and otherwise, in tho capable hands of the British and Foreign traders, who have a far more intimate knowledge of the local conditions and requirements than we in far distant New Zealand can ever hope to possess. These four essential conditions are:—(l) That our fanners should continue to improve them flocks and herds by breeding the stock, the meat of which is found to suit best the tasto of their customers; (2) that our freezing companies should continually Btrive not only to maintain, but also to raise the reputation of their respective "trade marks"; (3) that th--shipping companies should go on providing us with the best possible facilities for getting our meat to the n.arkets of the world; and (4) that our High Commissioner in London should bring the whole weight of the Dominion's influence to bear unon the port authorities of the United Kingdom and elsewhere, in order that we may -.0 provided with better and more up-to-date methods for the discharge, storage, and delivery of our meat i.t the respective ports of discharge. T am of opinion that, if these four essentials are_ observed, our frozen n_eat trade will continue to flourish, and that our meat will retain the present commanding position in the markets of Great Britain and the Continent." PATENTS AND TRADE AI ARKS. Air Loudon took up the subject of patents and trado marks, advocating

uniformity throughout tho Empire. The form oi application prescribed for ordinary cases in the United Kingdom was admirably simple, requiring onl\ the signature of the applicant in two places and if the same form were prescribed throughout the Empire many petitions, declarations and other useless documents at present required m some States would be abolished. The question of establishing a national patents and trade marks office in London was worthy of most careful consideration. To conserve revenues ot individual States, the Empire could be divided into sections, and a sliding scale of fees prescribed. Tho vaii_rt> of a patent as regards each State could be independent and capable of cancelation if required, without affecting the validity in other States. The registration of trado marks could be carried out with the central office in London, and sub-offices in each State. To Air Campbell—The establishment of a central office would involve the unification of patent laws. To Sir Alfred Bateman—lf they could not get absolute uniformity in the British Empiro he would favour approximate uniformity by adhering to international conventions. Ho had preference for the English patent law in some respects, because of its simplicity. Air J. R. Park, patent agent, said ho had been established in Dunedin about 20 years. The new patent law passed in New Zealand in 1911 was expressly moulded on the English Act, except in the matter of working of patents. It would he desirable to have an Empire patent law so that instead of men hjvins; twenty or thirty laws to comply with, they would have only one. To Sir Alfred Bateman: He did not think tho comnulsory working _ provisions in England were advisable. Tlio provision should be in force there that was in fo- • in New Zealand and Australia, namely, that if a patent was not working and the person commenced to work it, he was not infringing the patent if ho got an order from Court that it was not being worked. To Air Tatlow: Uniformity in regard to the duration of patents existed at present in the United Kingdom and Dominions, exc_ x >t in Canada. Canada gavo 18 years, and in othor British countries 14 years was allowed. SHIPPING LAWS. Air W. E. Reynolds read a memorandum on commercial and merchant shipping laWs, advocating closer conformity than at present existed. It was stated that at the present, sale on f.o.b. terms threw on the buyer the onus of proving, in event of a dispute, that the goods shipped were not up to tho standard. '__._© same applied to c.i.f. sales, except that tho seller provided the insurance freight, and exchange. It should bo made possible for the seller, in tho event of refusal of a draft, to sue and have judgment entered in his favour at the port of shipment, judgment to carry the right of execution at tho port of destination, without the necessity of taking further action there, as was the case at present. The position should be made much moro definite with reference to c.i.f. sales, and something more definite should be laid down as to ship's - liability in connection with tho storage of goods. In cases where goods were shipped in excellent condition, but arrived at destination damaged, the ship, as a rule, disclaimed liability, though thero might be distinct signs throughout tho cargo of fresh water damage. The Chairman: You practically want an alteration of this law. It is not a question of uniformity. AVitness: Aly opinion is that even if tho samo uniformity of terms was brought about throughout the Empire, it would help matters very much, indeed. The Chairman: It is different in commercial practice in different parts. You want to see them brought into uniformity? Witness: I think, without altering tho law at all, tne terms could be brought into such uniformity that they would become usual. The Chairman: I don't think we can really take any useful .action on this point. It seems to involve alteration of the law in different parts of tho Empire. Have you any idea as to how what you devise can be brought about? Witness: Take selling, f.o.b. Hon. J. R. Sinclair: That would involve legislation. The Chairman, .after further discussion, said he thought the point was too legal. Air Reynolds said the clause relating to liability of ships was very important. The Chairman: It really wants the highest legal and professional skill to deal with it. We will tako your statement and put it into evidence. Mr Campbell referring to the third clause, said that it had been urged by experts that this was tho reason for American trado having beaten British trade. Air Reynolds said that ho had brought the matter up with the object that points raised might be ventilated, and with the hope that some good might come of it. SHORTAGE OF LABOUR. Air Arber, secretary of the Dunedin Expansion League, read a memorandum on the subject of immigration. He referred to the unsuitaoility of men who worked their passages out here. They wero rarely equipped with sufficient knowledge of any skilled trade, or facilities for making even a bare living. As showing real need for apprentices he stated that many firms were prepared to pay the passages ol boys and girls in order to attempt to fill their want. One wholesale clothing and boot manufacturer had been short of hands for the last four years, and at the present time could do with 50 additional employees. Men, women and children, trtme-expired men of the Navy, Army, and marine forces might make very suitable immigrants. The Commission will sit again tomorrow.