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New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12625, 4 August 1904, Page 5

AUCKLAND INDUSTRIES. The bottle-making and sailmaking industries of Auckland were referred to by Mr. Witheford in the House to-night. He wanted a bonus for bottle-making, and said en the coasts north of Auckland was the finest sand for glass-making in the world, a statement which was promptly challenged byMr. E. M. Smith. Mr. Witheford described the difficulties of the Auckland glass works, and asked for a protective duty, or preferably, a bonus. Sailmaking was also handicapped because finished sails were imported duty free, while there was a duty on the material, such as twine and certain kinds of duck and canvas. THE HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP. Mr. Rutherford approves of the appointment of a High Commissioner in London. He thinks we must fall into line with Canada and Australia, but he says in the matter of salary it would be as foolish for us as it was for the frog in the fable, who tried to compete in size with the ox and burat, to attempt to vie with those countries. He would not object to a salary of £2000, but he would emphatically protest against any allowance for entertaining. Why should the taxpayers pay Mr. Reeves to dine and wine colonists, who had accumulated sufficient money to take their " missus " 'ome for a trip ? Mr. Reeves' aristocratic soul would revolt if he were called upon to dine threefourths of the colonists who went Home. Mr. Rutherford trusted the Premier would givo way in this matter. ROAD WORKS. Mr. Herries is asking the Minister in charge of the Roads Department if he will give instructions that settlers are to be employed on road works in the Bay of Plenty as far as possible, in preference to persons brought from a distance.