AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1511, 14 February 1901, Page 58

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION

the NEW ZEALAxND COMMISSION

EVIDENCE IN SOUTHLAND

EXPORTERS FAVOUR UNITY.

TRADES UNION OPPOSITION

INVERCARGILL. February 6.

The Federation Commission opened :ta sittings to-day. The first witness called was Mr J. E. Watson, of the firm or Tothill, Watson and Co,, grain and "rotluce merchants, and Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. He stated that there was considerable trade between this part of the colony and New South Wales, which would be much interfered with if a tariff were put on. That had been the effect on trade with Victoria and South Australia Personally, Uq considered that the commercial disadvantages would be most serious if we del not. federate. Federation would open up the entire Australian colonies for p> reduce which this colony was better fitted to grow than Australia. The loss or revenue would be more than compensated by the fact that enormous markets would be opened up. As New Zealand was essentially a producing colony, these interests should bulk more largely than the welfare of manufacturing industries. If Australia became a competitor in the local wheat market farmers would reduce their prices ; he did not think the wheat trade or the flour millers would he prejudicially affected'. He did not consider much harm would result to industries if the cost of labour were the same here as in Australia.

Mr D. Hunt (Wright, Stephenson and Co.) said he had only considered federation as it affected his firm’s business. New Zealand should join the federation if by no other means freetrade could he got. He knew that much of the firm’s produce sent to Australia was re-exported, but before New Zealand could trade directly with those markets the volume of trade would have to be such as to warrant regular steam communication.

To Captain Russell : New Zealand would rapidly expand its produce trade y under freetrade. To Mr Millar: If South Africa continued so good a market as at present, NeAV Zealand need not gare about Australia. The latter Avas our market, because we could grow cereals which Aus-. tra.lia required and could hot produce. The freight to London made trade in grain Avholly unprofitable, unless at prices ruinous to farmers. Subsidising ves-sel-s to carry New Zealand produce, he did not think would work Mr J ames Callander (New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company) said he did not feel at liberty to express an opinion on the subject, and referred the Commission to the Wellington manager. Mr W. A. Morris said he represented the Bootmakers’ and Butchers’ Unions and the Society of Raihvay Servantabout 400 men. He objected to federation, because the colony would lose control and political individuality, and had everything to lose and nothing to gain. Joining industrially wcuicl mean to the unions and to New Zealand that Victoria would become the home of the manufacturers, and Avages would fall, Avhile our men would have to leave us for greater industrial centres. From an agricultural standpoint he did not t hink federation would provide a larger outlet. With the boundary tariffs gone,* Victoria, would supply the whole Commonwealth. From a worker’s point of view, he did not think it mattered what • price things were as long as people had fair work at fair pay. To Captain Bussell: In his trade, bootmaking, Avages were higher, on ihe whole, in New Zealand, despite Victoria's very protective tariff. To Mr Millar: Victoria, working full time, could suopiy the CommonAvealth with boots, and, under freetrade, would turn to NeAV Zealand for an outlet. AlreadA r NeAV Zealand felt American competition. To the chairman : The opinions he had expressed were those of 90 per cent, of the men he represented. Mr P. L. Gilkison (Fleming and Gilkison, millers), stated that ne, had considered federation from his oivn standpoint. If Ave did not federate the business of the firm would suffer. New Zealand should federate if she had not to pay too much for it. He thought we had everything to gain and little to lose by federating. He was satisfied that A) per cent, of Southland farmers Atouid A'ote to federate.

Mr C. J. Broad (ironmonger) said federation Avould not make much difference to the hardware trade. He did not think Australian houses would dominate the NeAV Zealand trade. Mr R. A. Anderson (J. G. Ward and Co.) said he had not considered the question, except as it affected exports, and his opinions on that Avere similar to those of Mr Watson’s.

Mr - Johnston (ironfounder and engineer) said if the duty on Victorian machinery Avas removed it would prejudicially affect engineering in New Zealand.

William Ross (woollen manufacturer) said his market was in New Zealand. He had been so short a time in the trade that he could not give an opinion on the effects of federating. Regarding machinery (Mr Ross is an engineer), he did not think NeAV Zealand could supply Noav South Wales if a duty was imposed there, and would not be able io do so much longer, even if admitted dutyfree. Wages were higher and hours shorter in New Zealand; consequently goods cost more to produce. New Zealand artisans could do more work than Australians, but the difference in wages could not be overcome. The working week in Australia was fifty-six hours. He considered that the legislation of the present GoA-ernment hampered trade.

The Commission finishes here to-mor-row, and sits at Dunedin on Saturday morning.