THE TRADE COMMISSION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 60, 13 March 1913, Page 8

THE TRADE COMMISSION.

EVIDENCE TAKEN AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Notwithstanding their avowed intention of not taking evidence in New Plymouth, the Empire Commission gave in to local representations, and last evening in the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce building, a quorum of the Commission, with Sir Eider Haggard at the head, assimilated a mass of information concerning the dairying industry, oil industry, Moturoa harbour, and ironsand deposits.

Air F. S. Johns, President of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, briefly thanked the Commission for having consented to take evidence locally, and then Mr J. Connett, Chairman of the Bell Block Dairy Company, gave the history of the growth of cooperative dairying in Taranaki, and stating how the co-operative movement had spread until now the factories in Taranaki had their own coopertive freezing works, a butter-box operative freezing works, a butter-box manufacturing plant, and extensive To Air Garlick: The institution of co-operative factories had undoubtedly increased their trade. They had dairy associations in the North and South Island, which were of great assistance in shipping. Undoubtedly a good deal of their success had been due to co-operation, and also to the Government giving thorn instructors and grading their produce. No doubt the later had placed their produce on a higher plane, and they had reaped enhanced prices.

Mr J. B. Connett stated in evidence, that since the companies had taken over the freezing works, the cost of freezing had been reduced from lOd to 41,d per box. It was no use making profits to pay additional income tax. The system was to keep the cost of handling down to the lowest ebb. To Sir Eider Haggard: Co-opera-tion, besides its financial benefit, had exercised a considerable humanising influence. It had brought the farmers together, and had helped to educate them.

Mr. J. B. Connett also submitted expensive evidence as regards the New Plymouth Harbour. It was stated that the ■ rather striking variations in the revenue were due to the fact that the Main Trunk Railway had diverted so much traffic. Prior to that, 45,000 passengers came through, and paid so much per head. Most of this was subsequently lost. They had jurisdiction of thirty miles of foreshore, which contained millions of tons of iron sand.

Replying to Sir Rider Haggard, Mr Connett said he thought the existing trade justified the expenditure of sncli large sums, and they were looking ‘for a much larger trade. They had revenue from reserves, and the revenue of the port was £BOOO more than tho expenditure. Evidence on the Oil Industry was given by Mr C. Carter. Mr Lorimer did not consider that the results so far obtained justified the erection of the refinery. He considered that they should have pumped tho bores first to ascertain their yield. Mr Carter said that pumping was a costly process. It was no use unless 'they had the most modern machinery, owing to the pressure of gas. Mr Lorimer: “A trifle compared with tho cost of a refinery.”

Mr Carter said that lie was quite satisfied that every wel] put down to the oil sands would produce. He was emphatically of opinion that the refinery was justified. Experts had been out, and it was on their recommendation to the Home Board that the refinery was erected. There was no local advisory hoard at the time.

Mr Lorimer said that he was pleased to know that they had such an asset, and was delighted that they had formed such a very confident opinion of it. He hoped their expectations would ho realised. If anything was to be said in the Commission’s report on the subject they must have definite grounds for it, which, had not been shown yet. At present they were only producing one-tenth of what they could refine. If they could convince the commission that that 10 per cent, would he increased they would he delighted to include it in the report. It further authenticated developments occurred in the bores now being drilled they would be pleased to hear of them. —Abridged from the News.