THE DOMINIONS ROYAL COMMISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15706, 7 March 1913, Page 6

THE DOMINIONS ROYAL COMMISSION.

WELLINGTON SITTINGS.

(Per United PnEaa Association.)

WELLINGTON, March 6. The members of the Empire Trade Comniision made a cruise round Wcliingron Harbour to-day. 'J'lio party was conducted by the chairman of the board (Mr 11. Fletcher), and with him were tlio engineer (Mr March'banks) and tho secretary (Mr Nicholls). Tho commissionera ali» inspeoted the sheds and other property of the board, dealing directly with the handling pf oargo and passenger vessels.

The board's engineer (Mr Marchbanks) subsequently gavo evident© before the commission. He stated that when the work in contemplation whs completed there would bo accommodation for ships drawing 45ft for many years to come. Dredging was Epw going on, but not for the purposes of navigation, the spoil ; being required for roclitmaiion works- Any vessel could r.ow go straight into the port. Iho board's secretary (Mr Nichoils) gavo evidence of fche financial position. "ilio board had praoticaJly no endowments. Its total . indebtedness was £832,000, and ita sinking fund (which was invested) £137,000. financial position ot tho board was very sound, and the assets exceeded tho liabilities (on Scptombor 30, iall). The rate of interest on loans was 4 'to 4i per cent. There was a net profit last year of £10,000 to £11,000 over the expenditure and ithe payment pf sinking fund and interest. The sinking fund last year was £127,660. The revenue was practically £250,000 last year. The board started with keeping tho charges as low as possible, consistent with finanSat stability. It had never been lavish, extravagant, or U£bpia,n. It had ever kept an eye to tho development of the port, but did not go too far ahead in a way that would make tho port a dear port. The board was unique, so far as ho believed, doing all the work of the port apart from the actual loading and unloading of the ships. The inclusive oharges were lower at Wellington than at any other port in New Zealand, consistent with tho work done. .To Mr Bowri'ng: The Engineer said, remforoed ooncreto had been used ea/tisfactorily in the construction of works. To Mr Lorimer: Ho said that totara was an cxocllem timber, but could not now bo obtained in euitablo lengths. Mr J. P, Luke, representing the New Zealand Industrial Association and. tho Industrial Corporation of New Zealand, and- also as an engineer, supplied a description of tho. ironsand, iron ore, copper, antimony, and other economical metallic resources of New Zealand. It would fco suicidal for the people of Now Zealand to ship their iroini ore or iron sand away, as it would bo in the interests of the Enipiro to have ironworks established in New Zealand. Thero was no class of machinery used in New Zealand that could not bo manufactured in New Zealand, and no Government would go outside for locomotives now that these had been so successfully constructed in tho dominion. Ho thought still larger fields of coal would yet bo revealed in New Zealand.

To Sir Rider Haggard: Ho knew it was held that the coal supply of New Zealand was limited, but that was not his view.

Sir Rider Haggard: Are you a geologist? —Mr Luke: No. Then it is erroneous to say that the coal resources are limited ?—Yes, You say that aa one with knowledge?—l sav it as a man of common sense. Mr Luke said Vie had great oonfidenco in the extent of tho mineral oil, as well as the coal resources. To Mr T. Garnett: The resources existed and would warrant a large number of people to work lhem. Mr Loriiner: You are not a geologist?— No. You speak only from what you have heard?—l have been hero 40 years, and havo been about a bit, I know that a London syndicate which proposed to work iron ore deposits was turned down by Parliament last session. Wo Lave heard that- the Parapara iron deposits contain £00,000,000 tons, and also 20.000,000 tons. How much do you Bay there is, —I have not measured it, but I suppose there aro 16,000,000 tons. With regard to tho syndicate referred to iio opnosed tho concession* sought. "We were too smart for them," he said. Mr Luke also submitted a resolution from the Industrial Association urging the remodelling of and tho appointment on the British Board of Trade of the Oversea Dominions representatives, making it an Imperial body. Tills especially applied to shipping matters, considering tho different navigation laws which tho self-governing dominions had passed. Mr Luko expressed regret that Wellington had no graving dock.

In reply to Sir Alfred Batewan, witneea said lie realised that the Board of Trade had not met for 100 years, and that there was a Minister and an advisory committeo which dealt with matters of commerce, shipping, and other trade matters.

But' do yon know that tho High Commissioner of New Zealand represents you on that committee?

Mr Luko said that -what was felt was the need of moro information, and that served out fully. "We want our people." ho added, "when they travel to feel as safe on your diips as on.oura"

Mr Luke was closely pressed by Sir Rider Haggard and Mr Garnet as to a statement by him that tho margin of safety on New Zealand ships was greater than in Britich ships. He was a6ked for facts by both o? them, but 'no spoke from a eeueral impression and from what he had read.

Mr H. H. Allen, secretary of the Industrial Association, was questioned by Mr Tatlow. Ho stated that New Zealand might and could do more to attract immigrants. Australia was attracting a large number of men of a character that were not a credit to tlio Old Country. New ZdaJand badly needed population, but unfortunately men came out to New Zealand who were specialists audi not "all round" men, who were wanted. , To the Hon. J. R. Sinclair the "wrtnesi said tho manufactures of New Zealand were lessened in quantity or output for want of labour. The desire for more labour was not in order to over supply ttie market and bring down wages, but to prevent the working of ovcrthno, and bo reduce the coat of the work.

Mr Allen, replying to Mr Lorimer, said) that'very little apart from primary products was exported from New Zealand, which had no market but her own for her manufactures.