GUMFIELDS COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9221, 8 June 1893, Page 6

GUMFIELDS COMMISSION.

third day. Th* Cnmfields Commission resumed its sittings yesterday- at the - Government Buildings, Auckland, when there were present:—Dr. Giles, R.M- (chairman) Messrs. J. C. Firth and G." Mueller. Mr. Seegner, of the firm of Seegner, Langgath, and Co., German Consul and actingAustrian Consul, gave evidence. , His firm, he said, bought gum where they could get it cheapest, either in Auckland or at the fields. They had no direct relations with the gumdiggers. His firm classified _ the gum r*y much the same as others did in Auckland. The quality of the gum had decidedly deteriorated since witness came to Auckland. The pieces were smaller than they used to be. He did not mean that the quality of the gum itself had deteriorated. In witness' opinion the prices would be regulated by the markets. Kauri gum had a competitor in the continental markets in Manilla, and further competition was now threatened by a new gum from Madagascar. It was 10s a cwt higher, that is when kauri was £8 Madagascar would be £8 10s. The latter was spoken of as quite equal to kauri for varnish purposes. The principal competitor with kauri on the Continent was Manilla. This however could only compete for certain classes of varnish. An export duty of £5 on kauri would have the effect of preventing altogether the export of inferior qualities of kauri. He had no doubt the duty would fall on the digger. As the merchants would have to pay the duty, they would certainly deduct the amount of it from the prices they paid the diggers. On these the burden would ultimately fall. When kauri gum could not be bought at a price Manilla gum was bought. The first three classes of re-scraped Manilla gum ranged from £45 to £87. Qualities not re-scraped ranged from £18 to £35. Madagascar gum had interfered with kauri in France. Orders from Marseilles had not come for the last IS months. Mr. Firth: Bob there was very little sent to France?— Witness 50 or 60 tons; but a good deal of gum went from London to France and the Continent. Coald not say whether the trade has diminished; but no orders have come to Auckland. Witness (continuing}: B«ieved the prices in London were more or leas artificial. The prico in Auokland was regulated by the London prices. Mr. Mueller : Can you say what proportion ef gum is exported to the Continent direct? Witness : I should say about 300 tons ; but there is a great deal shipped to Loodon and transhipped there. The Chairman: Can you give us any information about the Austrians said to have come here ? How many of them have come here recently?— Witness: I can only tell you what I have heard from the young ; men, soldiers who came to me to have their passports vis6d. There have been about •25 of these spread over the last year or so. From them 1 have heard that these people number in ail between 400 and 600 al- J

together. Within what time ?—Within the last four or five yean. They are nob Austrian®, but Dalmatians. Hare they given you any information as to what induced them to come out. here ?— They all say they come to dig kauri gum. I believe, however, the great impetus to this emigration was given a few years ago when a few men won money on a race. One, I think, won £1000. They all come from a very small neighbourhood. They are all from within 40 or 50 miles of each other. Mr. Firth What would they get In their own country, Is or 6d a-daj ?— would be very small. They speak Croatic. You can imagine when a man went back with £1000, the rest would sell their shirts to come out. The Chairman : How many have arrived during the last twelve months? —Witness: It would be difficult to say, but more have arrived during the last twelve months than before. Some of them have gone back to their own country and returned to New Zealand again. Do you know if any have settled in this country?— Yes, several. Ido not know of any bringing over their wives and families. They look as if they were agricultural labourers. ilr. Firth : It is a vine country ; would there be vine-growers amongst them ?— Witness : There are sure to be. The Chairman : Do you know it any of these men are brought out by any agency ? —Witness : No- I have made it my business to ask who sent them, and they say no one. Mr. Firth : Are they all young men ?— Witness: Yea; they are fine well built men for the most part, and used to hard work. Witness continuing : The Italians go out to the River Plate, then go home, spend their money, and then return. The Chairman : Would any of them be likely to settle ?—Witness : Some might, but very few. They do not learn the language and always keep together. Their ways of life, too, are different, and altogether 1 do not think they are very desirable importations. They make , about £100 a year clear. They are honest, hard-working, and thrifty. The enquiry then adjourned.