COLONIAL CANDLES

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 12866, 26 May 1905, Page 4

COLONIAL CANDLES

The other day a Sydney cable iinformed us that a candle manufacturer, giving evidence before the Tariff Conimitfsion, said that there is a sirojig prejudice aga^t any colonial inunufaeture. The Eveniwg Post was led to making enquiries on the subject in Wellington, and Mr Harrj' Boaiichamp waa interviewed. Mr Beauchamp agreed that prejudice is one of ihe strongest factors againstS colonial candle manufacturers, but he was of opinion that further protection of the? industry was the greatest essential. Since the duty on candles was reduced from twopence to a penny the industry has, he said, steadily gone down hill, and unless further protection is given the whole of tho companies in New Zealand will seriously consider the question of discontinuing to manufacture. We quite believe tbat there ia a prejudice against colonial candles, but there is probably some o-ood grouno for it. For one thing the finish of tho colonial article is certainly not equal to that of the test imported, and we do not see why people should "be compelled to pay still another penny for their candles in order bolster tip an industry which cannot or will not turn out an article to suit the popular taste-. Th« alternative io an increase in duty is, according'to Mr Beauchamp,- the death ,of ihe. colonial industry. That world lje rather • >a %^prty, because with perseverance the 'industry will eventually thrive. Yet it would not matter a great deal to the colony as a wholeThere are 110 -recent statistics, dealing with the industry, but ac it has made no progress, we may take those for 1900 asf near enotigh.' for our •purpose. In that year the soap and candle industries combined employed only "32 people; th« wages bill amounted to £19,009 ; and the materials used were valued at £112,623. It is not easy to separate tlite two industries, but if .the wages, bill is divided equally Ihe star** of tnecandle industry is only £9500. Of the material probably not a third was. .used in making candles. That, however, does not matter much, for a great" deal of it was imported. The raw New Zealand product consumed, was of no very great Value, anti, in any case, if il had not been used locally it would have realised perhaps a higher price abroad. luus the candle industry is not worjh much to the colony as a consumer of raw products. Nor is it valuable as ,an employer of labour, for, as we have shown, only £19,009 is the year s wages bill for both, soap (a flourishing indusT-ry) «ul candle works Nowm 1903, the latent $gureß available t£ r«r-^ ;:; — a r*t niters the consumers houses and ietal ,\, ' lfion A or had to pay probably £16,000 01 mOOO through the tcet an industry winch P^d £ 0000 or less 5n wages. "And now Parliament 3S lo be a^to double the duty.. * it not absurd? '

Miss Firmstone and M«* H. £ Wright forward parcels of Books ft* , 93 , I.l' Bushmen. - cal reading 30.06' The Now Zealand Times says it has been decided that the Cr^ Office shall now be separated from the Justice Department and I*^™J the control of the. Attorney-General, as it. was some years ago. The N.Z. Clothing Factory (fallenstem Bros.) have * ™* ™f,^l issue directing attention t > tta: high class winter goods. This firms stock has been considerably, increased and

To save disappointment country settlers will xlo well Ito *iote \ that ! next Saturday. Jtmc nC ° f^ Wales Birthday) is a close holiday foi. the Mbney Order and Savings Bank Office The Post , Office «is / open » other branches from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m. only. ' ' At _the Feilding Police Court, William Leal was charged with making a false declaration in order to obtain a marriage license. ' Accused had not resided in *he district three days, but at a neighbouring 'township . adjoining tho district!. < lie was 1 'oremfanded *" the Supreme Court.

An Order-in-Council for the extension of the Wellington City electric tramways to Kilbirnie, Island Bay and Brooklyn lias been issued. The work j of construction will be proceeded with at once. I i During the year ended March 31 the ! imports to Wellington amounted to to 356017 ions, ti decrease of 938 tons ! on tho previous year. Outward shipments amount od to 119,555) tons, a decrease of 15 eons. Wool exJports a- ! mounted to 10(51 bales. I With regard to the grading of but- j ter, "'A Dissatisfied One"' writes to the ti'uvi that his butter which was gradv,\ '"second class" here, realised from , lOJs to 101)s in England.- v Wo cannot \ insert his letter, because it would be j unfair to make an attack on tho graders under a nom-de-plunie. Mr \\. Jiujues, Government Canning Expert, will visit the principal districts of the colony during the winter months, commencing- 'fhc North Island early in June. He proposes to meet all interested in commercial tunning ; and, if required, will address meetings on the canning, potting, evaporating, and commercial treatment of fruit, vegetables, etc. The Australian Mutual Provident Society has now such a largo number of policy holders in New Zealand that we print in another portion of this issue the speech of the Chairman of Directors delivered at the annual meeting held in Sydney on the sth instant, al^o the remarks of the Hon. Edwatd Richardson. C.3LG., tho , New Zealand delegate, in supporting tho adoption of the 56th annual report. They \\i\\ repay perusal. The figures quoted show solid prosperity all along the line.