FEDERATION COMMISSION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12424, 13 February 1901, Page 3

FEDERATION COMMISSION.

[PjiR Press Association.] DUNEDIN, Feb. 12. Before the Federation Commission, this morning,. Alexander Burt, head of the firm of A. and T. Burt, was the first witness. He said that., his, firm employed about five hundred hands. Federation would affect his business greatly, as it would not be able to compete with Australia on even tariffs. The most important point in his objection to Federation from a manufacturing point of view was the facility with which the raw material could be obtained in Australia. Tl'iey had got copper and tin, which we had. to import from New South Wales and Victoria. Another point that handicapped us was that coal and coke, which were largely used :.n the iron trade, cost only about half in Australia what they did here. Then, in' the matter of freights, the carriage of heavy materials, was from 25 and 50 per cent less to Melbourne and Sydney. Another thing was that the larger, the manufactures were the cheaper was the output. Taking all these points together,' it would be impossible for engineers, iron-founders, brass-workers and 'copper-workers to compete successfully against Australian manufacturers. If Federation were to take place now a great many manufactures which were going on tn Dunedin would be annihilated. If Federation were entered upon it would be necessary for the Government to pay very, serious attention to the question of technical education, which was so liberally encouraged in Australia. He did not despair of the New Zealand copper deposits being ultimately worked successfully: Not only from a financial, but also from a population point ot view, Federation would have 'a retrograde effect upon New Zealand. To Captain Russell: If the Parapara field were properly developed he thought pig-iron 'could be landed in any centre m New Zealand at five shillings per ton. The iron trade had not been seriously affected by legislation and the Conciliation .and Arbitration Act had been an advantage alike to the trade and to the men employed in it. Robert Glendining, of the firm of Ross and Glendining, said'he had given the question of Federation very little consideration. From n warehouseman's point of view he did not think that Federation would be an advantage, and also in the matter of woollen manufacture he did not think the .colony could compete against Australia. In lire woollen trade here we paid higher wages and worked shorter hours than was the case m Australia Possibly Federation might ; be an.advantage from ail agricultural point of view, but, in his opinion, the manufacturing, industries were of mora importance to the colony than agriculture. He employed nearly 1000 hands altogether, and about 4UU ot them at his mill. From a. colonial point of view he thought it would be more to the advantage of New Zealand to remain out of the Commonwealth. G. P. Farquhar, leather merchant, said that'Federation would be very injurious to' the boot trade, and' would! practically wipe it out. There was enough machinery in one town in New'Zealand to supply the boots for the whole oountry, but it-was not kept 201112. Alfred Henry Bridger, Manager of Saxgood, Son and Ewen's, boot factory, said that the boot trade in the colony was in a languishing condition, and could not possibly stand against the .addition of further competition with freetrade to Australia, John H. Morrison, Manager of the' Mosgiel Woollen Factory' Company, said that so far as the ,woollen factories were concerned," Federation, he thought, Would be a benefit, as the little they were now able to send in would be increased if the tariff Avail- was broken down. From a political standpoint, he thought New Zealand could work' out its destiny alone. . A reciprocal treaty would be more advantageous than Federation. 'James C. Ross, manager of Denton Hat Mills, said that if the tariff was maintained the colonies could compete successfully with the outside world, but with a 5 or 10 per cent tariff, outside competition would kill the trade, in New Zealand and Victoria. Percy R. Sargood, managing partner of Sargpod, Son and Ewen, said that industrially he did not think New Zealand ripe for Federation. ,- ~ .-.- .< ■-,, A. L. Isaacs, manager of the New Zealand Clothing Factory, said New Zealand could..not federate without:'doing .great iajury to its industries. Be did not see, why. the factory hands of Nefr Zealand should not do as'well as those of Australia. • ■ Robert M'Kinlay, boot manufactuer, said that Federation would ruin his. trade. Practically the whole of the nine witnesses to-day were opposed to Federation.