THE TARIFF COMMISSION.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 52, 29 August 1895, Page 3

THE TARIFF COMMISSION.

TO THI JCDITOB. Sib— l have suooeeded at last in wading through the immense volume of matter that forms the report of the " holiday or reoess tour of the Tariff Commissioners." I hare i also oompared the evidenoe given with their proposals, and then again drawn a further comparison with the alterations proposed in the resolutions attaohed to the Budget. I am fairly astonished at the waste of time and money" on such a useless jaunt as the Commissioners made throughout the length and breadth of the colony, to say nothing of the slight put upon the numerous expert witnesses;, who gave the Com. missioners really good sound advice in many oases, whioh was absolutely unheeded. But my object in directing attention to the Comuunsion at all is to ask those of your readers who con afford the time to refer to the last 'two pages, 433 to 435, of the evidense, where a witness named James Broken■haw gives information at the Bluff respecting oyster culture. Having had his "~ sM^Kabonfc an alleged difficulty respecting the dnty-on-.jipned oysters, he goeß on to elaborate some"Vlßw»«^£i oyster onltnre, whioh are very amusing wh*u brought face to face with the facts. The Commission must have been' very hard pnt to it for evidenoe while at the Bluff, as they appear to have allowed this man to be examined as if he were an expert, when he admitted that he was not, and his' evidence oonfirms him. Had the Commission desired expert evidenoe relative to oyster culture, they could have obtained it here in Wellington without the least trouble or 'expense. The New Zealand Native Clyster Fisheries Company has made a study of the business, and having scoured the services and cooperation of a genuine expert from the Essex fisheries is doing all that is necessary towards the promotion of oyster oulture. In fact, it is not exaggeration to say that in a- few months— at anyrate within a year from now— the Wellington company will be able to show what a judioious system of oyster oulture can produce in the way of real " natives." 1 am, ftc, LOOAi iKDtTSTRT. Wellington, 22nd August.