CONFERENCE OF THE INDUSTRIAL AND PROTECTION SOCIETIES OF NEW ZEALAND

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1888 Session I, H-10

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1888. NEW ZEALAND.

CONFERENCE OF THE INDUSTRIAL AND PROTECTION SOCIETIES OF NEW ZEALAND

(EEPOET OF THE), HELD IN THE HALL OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN THE CITY OF WELLINGTON DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH, 18S8, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING A REVISION OF THE TARIFF WITH A VIEW TO ASSISTING COLONIAL INDUSTRIES, AND MATTERS INCIDENTAL THERETO.

Laid on the Table by ths Hon. G. Fisher, with the Leave of the House.

The Conference have to report as follows : — 1. That the following Societies wore represented at the Conference by the under-mentioned gentlemen : — The Industrial Association of Auckland. Delegate : Mr. H. M. Shepherd. The New Zealand Industrial Protection Association, Wellington. Delegates: Mr. W. Chalmers, Mr. J. Dransfield, Mr. "W. Hildreth, Mr. T. Kennedy Macdonald, and the officers of the Association ex officio, viz., Mr. C. M. Luke, Mr. W. Hill, Mr. W. Eobertson. The New Zealand Protection Association, Christchurch. Delegate : Mr. David Bellhouse. The Industrial Association of Canterbury. Delegate : Mr. H. B. Kirk. The Protection League of Otago. Delegate : Mr. O. J. Hodge. The Southland Protection League, Invercargill. Delegates : Mr. J". Macintosh, Mr. J. Stuart. 2. That Mr. H. M. Shepherd was elected President, and Mr. J. Dransfield Vice-President of the Conference. 3. That Mr. Bellhouse and Mr. Hill were elected joint Honorary Secretaries of the Conference. 4. That the principle of voting by localities—four votes being allowed to each city or district represented —was the basis upon which all decisions were arrived at. 5. That the Conference sat upon the following days — Monday, 19th March; Tuesday, 20th March; Wednesday, 21st March; Thursday, 22nd March; Friday, 23rd March; Saturday, 24th March; Monday, 26th March; Tuesday, 27th March; Wednesday, 28th March—from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., and on several days from 7.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. 6. This Conference has been called into existence in consequence of the gradual growth of a united opinion that the present tariff gave little encouragement to the development of manufactures within the colony; that, being framed mainly for revenue purposes, it was very unequal in its operations, and in many cases taxed the colonial manufacturers' raw material at the same rate as the imported finished article. It was ascertained that the intense competition amongst manufacturers in Europe and America induced the latter to ship to the colony, from time to time, large quantities of their surplus stocks, thus interfering with the ordinary operations of trade, and greatly embarrassing the colonial manufacturer and diminishing his output. The effect of these and other like causes was seen in the depression which now exists in many of the manufacturing industries of the colony, and which has led to a diminution of employes and a reduction of wages. It was also noted that this depression brought about a desire on the part of those who could not obtain employment to seek it elsewhere, until the colony was face to face with an exodus of a number of people to Australia. That this was no fancy is proved by the fact that the excess of departures for the month of February last over arrivals from Australia was no less than 544; and during the present month of March it will be much greater, some 400 having left New Zealand in one week, the worst feature in this connection being the further fact that those who are going comprise not only men with capital, but many of the youngest and most energetic artisans, who can find no opening in New Zealand for their labour. These facts have been well weighed by the various societies specially associated together for the encouragement and development of colonial industries. They felt that the time had arrived for concerted action and a united expression of opinion upon the fiscal policy, which alike retards

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manufacture, sends the flower of the colony to other lands, and annually exports hundreds of thousands of pounds sterling to be expended for wages in foreign countries, while our own wageearners arc crying out in vain for employment. The Conference, in analysing the tariff, have only dealt with those articles which they conceive are connected directly, or indirectly, with the industries of the colony. Their conclusions as to the lines which should be admitted free, or bear varying degrees of duty, are based upon the accumulated mass of opinion from those engaged in the various manufactures and industries of the colony, always having due regard to the personal considerations which are apt, more or less, to unduly affect the minds of those largely interested in special directions. The Conference believe that, if the changes proposed by them in the Tariff and their suggestions and recommendations are given practical effect to, it will stimulate every existing industry, increase the home production, give a larger wage-earning power to the community, and be the means of establishing new industries likely to prove of great economic importance. 7. The following are the proposed changes in the tariff:— Changes in the Customs Tariff recommended by the Delegates appointed from the various Industrial and Protection Associations of the Colony of New Zealand, in Conference assembled, at Wellington, 28th March, 1888.

Account books .. .. .. 25% ad val. Acid, acetic .. .. .. .. 3d. \* pint or lb. Apparel and slops, except hosiery,— Whether wholly or partly made up from woollen piece - goods, being vestings, trouserings, coatings, and shirtings containing wool, broadcloth, witneys, naps, flannels, mantle-cloths, cloakings, and ulsterings .. .. .. .. 30% ad val. Whether wholly or partly made up (except articles just mentioned), viz., aprons, breeches, coats, capes, cloaks, costumes, collars, cuffs, sleeve and sets, crinolines, camisoles, dresses, furs made up, frocks, fronts, infants' hoods and hats, infants' swathes and bibs, jackets, knickerboclcer suits or portions of suits, leggings, mantles, muslin and net scarves, nightdresses, pants,pelisses, petticoats, pinafores, ruffles, robes, shirts of all kinds, skirts, stays, shawls, trousers, tunics, vests, wristbands ; men's, women's, and children's underclothing; ties, scarves, neckerchiefs; and all articles used for like purposes .. .. 25% » Apples, driccl .. .. .. 2d. "p-lb. Axes and hatchets .. .. .. 15% ad val. Axles, axle-arms and -boxes other than patent, axle-blocks .. .. 25% „ Bags made up of calico, hessian, linen, and foifar .. .. ..25% „ Baking-powder .. .. .. 25% „ Baskets and wickerwaro .. .. 25% Bellows .. .. .. .. 25% Blacking .. .. .. .. 25% Blankets .. .. .. .. 25% Blue .. .. .. .. 2d. 'i* lb. Boiled sugars .. .. .. 3d. „ Bolts and nuts — J-in. and over, except blank nuts and bolt-ends .. .. .. 25% ad val. Under J-in., excepting blank nuts .. 20% „ Bonnets, except straw, chip, willow, tape, and braid, untrimmed .. .. 40% , Boots and shoes, present English size to bo the standard, except children's No. 3, viz.,— Men's Nos. G and upwards .. .. 33/ \* doz. prs. Youths'Nos. 2 to 5 .. ..21/ Boys' Nos. 7 to 1 .. .. .. 17/6 Women's Nos. 3 and upwards .. 19/G Girls'Nos. 11 to 12 .. ..10/ 7to 10 .. .. 11/G Children's Nos. 4to G, and slippers .. 0/ , Women's lasting and stuff boots, without military heels .. .. 13/ „ Goloshes of all kinds .. .. 4/ Slippers, men's, women's, and children's, Nos. 7 and upwards .. 9/ » Gum boots to be exempt. Boot and shoo vamps and uppers .. 25% ad val. Bottles of all kinds (empty) .. .. 3d. 'P doz. Bottles, of glass or stone, containing a reputed quart, or any less quantity, of spirits, not perfumed; wine, ale, porter, and other beer ; aerated, or mineral waters .. .. .. Gd. %* doz.

Bottles containing pickles .. .. 3d. '(j* doz. Bottles, all other kinds .. .. 25% ad val. Brasswaro, builders' and cabinetmakers' castings and furnishings .. .. 15% , Brass manufactures, not otherwise enumerated .. .. ..25% Brooms and handles .. .. .. 25% „ Brushware, manufactured wholly or in parts, excepting wire-brushes, artists' and painters'brushes .. .. 25% „ Buckets and tubs, wood or iron .. 25% , Butter .. .. .. .. 2d. lb. Candles, all kinds .. .. .. 2Jd. „ Capers .. .. .. .. 20% ad val. Caps, apparel .. .. ..25% „ Cardboard, 14 J in. x lOJin., and under .. 25% „ Carpets and druggets .. .. 25% „ Carriages, carts, drays, and wagons (including second-hand), all carts and wagons without springs, springcarts and spring - drays with two wheels .. .. .. .. 20% Tilburies, dog-carts, gigs, Boston chaises, and other two-wheeled vehicles on springs or thoroughbraces .. £10 each. Express wagons, wagons for carrying goods, single and double - seated wagons, and four-wheeled buggies without tops, mounted on springs or thoroughbraces .. .. £15 each. Hansom safety - cabs, single and double-seated wagons, wagonettes, and four-wheeled buggies with tops £20 each. Omnibuses and coaches for carrying mails or passengers .. .. £10 each. Barouches, broughams, mail phajtons, drags, and other carriages not otherwise enumerated .. .. £50 each. Railway-carriages and tram-cars .. 25% ad val. Raw material for building railway-car-riages and tram-cars, and patent fittings .. .. .. .. Free. Manufactured parts of carriages not otherwise enumerated .. .. 25% ad val. Carriage material, carriage- and cartwheels, carriage springs, carriage and buggy cart shafts (bent), dressed spokes, felloes, and naves .. 25% , Elm hubs, rough spokes and felloes, shafts and poles, in the rough, if unbent and unplained .. .. Free. Catsup .. .. .. .. 4/ '■$■ doz. pints. Cement .. .. .. .. 2/ barrel. Chaff .. .. .. .. 30/ ■& ton. Cheese .. .. .. .. 2d. V lb. Chocolate and cocoa .. .. .. sd. „ Churns .. .. .. .. 25% ad val. Clocks—Chimes, steeple, turret, and any finished parts thereof .. .. 15% „ Clogs and pattens .. .. .. 25% ad val. Coffee, roast .. .. .. Od. lb. Confectionery,not otherwise enumerated 30% ad val. Cordage, viz.: — Coir rope .. .. .. .. 5/ cwt. Hempen and other cordage (except galvanised and other iron and steel cordage), including all housing and seizing line and spun yarn .. 11/3 „ White lines and other descriptions of cordage not otherwise specified, except coir yarn .. .. .. 28

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Cordage— continued. Sheep nets .. .. .. .. 20% ad val. Corks, out .. .. .. .. 25% Cornflour and maizcna .. .. .. Id. lb. Cranes, capstans, winches, and windlasses 25% ad val. Doors, plain .. .. .. .. 7/fi each. Doors, glazed with ornamental glass .. 9/6 „ Drainage pipes and tiles .. .. 25% ad val. Dressing-cases.. .. .. .. 25% „ Drugs, medicines, patent and proprietary, and Seidlitz powders .. .. 25% „ Cochineal to bo free. Earthenware, brownware, and terra-cotta stoneware, telegraph insulators .. 25% Photographic materials exempt. Engravings and prints .. .. .. 25% „ Essences, flavouring .. .. .. 25% „ Eire-engines, excepting steam .. .. 25% Fire appliances, excepting hose .. .. 25% „ Fireworks .. .. .. .. 25% Fish, all round —dried, pickled, salted, potted, preserved .. .. .. 2d. $> lb. Fruits, bottled .. .. .. .. 2/6 'P doz. qts. Fruits, preserved .. .. .. 25% ad val. Fruits, dried, exclusive of currants and raisins .. .. .. .. 3d. \* lb. Fruit, green, except oranges, citrons, pineapples, bananas, guavas, and other such tropical and semi-tropical fruit .. 2/ cwt. Fruit, pulp .. .. .. .. 20% ad val. Furniture and upholstery and parts of same (except secondhand accompanying any passenger which has been in such passenger's own use, up to £25 in value, and which is not imported for sale) .. 30% Billiard-tables or any parts thereof .. 25% „ Glass-plate, silvered or etched .. .. 25% Glassware, except locket-, brooch-, and watch-glasses, optical, surgical, and scientific instilments, and photographic and telegraphic materials .. .. 1/ V cub. ft. Gas plant .. .. .. .. 25% ad val. Gasaliers and chandeliers .. .. 25% Glue and size .. .. .. .. 3d. "i» lb. Grain and pulse— Barley .. .. .. .. 1/6 sj> 1001b. Beans and peas .. .. .. 1/G „ Linseed .. .. .. .. £3 ■§■ ton. Maize .. .. .. .. 1/ V 1001b. Malt .. .. .. .. S/f-boshel. Split peas .. .. .. .. 2/6 ■$ 1001b. Wheat and other kinds .. .. 2/ Paddy .. .. .. .. Jd. ?■ lb. Rice, milled .. .. .. id, „ ground .. .. .. 20% ad val. Groats and barley, prepared .. .. 5/ i* 1001b. Meal, linseed .. .. .. 5/ „ Linseed cake with oil .. .. 5/ „ Linseed cake without oil .. .. 2/ „ Meal of other kinds .. .. .. 2/ Grindery—■ Heel- and toe-plates .. .. .. 25% ad val. Iron and wood lasts .. .. .. 25% „ Heel stiffening and toe cap knives .. 25% Heel balls and rivotting stands for lasts 25% „ Hardware and ironmongery, viz : — Air gratings; ash pans; barrow-wheels; bed screws: bill files; blacksmiths' tongs; boathooks; boilers and furnaces; copper bolt rings ; bottle-jacks, liftingbraces, wrought-iron; branch pipes, copper and brass; brazed copper pipes; cake rollers: camp ovens : three-legged pots; cast iron of all sorts, moulded; castings of steel ; cast-iron cylinders ; cisterns, wrought iron ; coal scoops and scuttles ; condensers for salt water and steam engines; contractors forgings; cork drawers, wire and steel; crowbars ; crucibles, black lead; dampers and frames ; door-knockers ; door-porters ; door scrapers; drain grates and frames; drain gratings ; dumbells ; engine castings; engineers'forgings; fenders; firedogs ; fire-guards ; fittings for pumps, engines, and machinery; flower-stands ; furnace pans, galvanized; galvanised and black spouting and guttering; buckets and tubs ; garden reels, rollers, and seats ; girders, iron ; grates ; gridirons; grindstone spindles; gun-metal steam-engine fittings, moulded; ridging and piping; hammers, napping, quartz, and spawling; hasps and staples;

Hardware and ironmongery— continued. cast-iron hat-stands ; hayrakes ; holdfasts: hook-and-eye hinges; horsepower gear ; horse-rakes; horseshoes; hydraulic mains; iron brackets; japanned and lacquered ware; kitchen-ranges; ladles; lamp-posts; leadenware; letters and figures, wrought-iron or steel; levers, forged ; links, connecting or split; lifts, warehouse ; manger rings ; mangles ; marine engine cranks or pillars ; maulrings ; meat-hooks ; monkeys for piledriving ; ornamental gratings ; painted and brass casings for engines ; pepper, malt, bean, and oat mills; picks; mattocks ; pipes, wrought-iron (except welded); pulley-blocks ; pumps ; quarry mauls and picks; quoits; railwaychairs ; rods, connecting; roller skates; sack trucks; safes and boxes, iron ; sash weights; shafting (bright wroughtiron) ; sluice-valves, iron; soldering irons ; stands, iron ; stench traps ; ironware, stamped; troughs; truck wheels; tue irons, cast; washers, black and galvanised; wedges; wheelbarrows, wrought-iron ; wheels, wrought-iron .. 25% ad. val. Hardware, not otherwise enumerated .. 15% „ Harness of all kinds .. .. .. 25% „ Harrows .. .. .. ..20% , Hats, except straw, chip, willow, tape and braid untrimmed, not otherwise enumerated .. .. ..25% „ Men's, boy's, and youth's, with calico or other foundation or frame, and covered with felt, plush, silk, merino, velvet, or othermaterial, unless otherwise specified 30/ doz. Hats known as dress hats .. .. 48/ „ Boys' and youths' felt hats in sizes up to and including 6J .. .. .. 8/ „ Men's felt hats, and women's untrimmed felt hats and pith hats .. .. 15/ „ Hops .. .. .. .. .. 9d. '(?• lb. Plosiery, woollen .. .. .. 25% ad val. Ink, writing .. .. .. .. 25% Iron bridges, and all material for the construction of bridges, wharves, jetteis, and patent slips, wholly or partly made up .. .. .. .. 25% Iron standards, straining-posts, and apparatus .. .. .. ..25% „ Iron gates and gate-posts .. .. 25% ~ Iron, galvanised, corrugated, sheets .. 45/ ton. Iron, plain, galvanised-sheets .. .. 30/ „ Iron nails, viz., deck-spikes, black or galvanised .. .. .. .. 25% ad val. Iron boiler-rivets, black or galvanised .. 25% Iron tanks .. .. .. .. 10/ each. Iron wire— Barbed fencing .. .. .. 2/6 '4? cwt. Netting, wire mattresses, and woven wire for mattresses .. .. .. 25% ad. val. Ironmongery not otherwise enumerated .. 15% „ Jams, jollies, and preserves .. .. 3d. lb Jewellery, with or without precious stones, — Rings of gold, finished or unfinished, but without cameos or precious stones set therein .. .. .. .. 4/ %> dwt. troy. All other jewellery of gold, unfinished, mounted, or in parts, but cameos and precious stones set therein not otherwise specified .. .. .. 3/ „ Chains of gold unfinished, except ma-chine-made chains for fringes .. 1/ „ All other jewellery, whether manufactured wholly or in part, not otherwise enumerated .. .. .. .. 20% ad. val. Lamps and lanterns, except carriage lamps 25% „ Leather, excepting roan, japanned and enamelled calf and kid, patent and fancy coloured moroccos, wax calf, enamelled chamois, doe, buck, seal, levant, kangaroo, crust- or rough-tanned hogskins, calf, goat, and sumach- tanned sheep .. .. .. .. 20% „ Cut into shapes .. .. .. 25% „ Leather-ware, or articles made up of leather, or any manufacture of which leather is the most valuable part, and trunks, portmanteaux,gladstono,andotherbags 25% Maccaroni and vermicelli .. .. Id. \> lb. Machinery— For agricultural purposes, except reapers-and-binders .. .. .. 20% ad val.

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Machinery— Quartz-crushing, except any patent gold-saving apparatus .. .. 25% For saw-mills, except patents .. 25% „ Wool- and hay-pressing, except patents .. .. .. 25% Steam-engines up to 100-horso power, and all parts thereof, and locomotives and boilers for engines and all parts thereof 25% „ For steam-vessels .. .. .. 25% Mats and rugs .. .. .. 25% Matting, coir .. .. .. 20% „ Meats, potted and preserved .. .. 25% Milk, preserved .. .. .. 25% Millinery—Bonnets (except straw, chip, willow, tape, and braid, untrimmed) ; frilling, ruffling, plaitings, ruchings ; human hair manufactured, viz., head-dresses, hair-plaits, hair-plait stems, side-pads, and chignons, or articles of a like character made of any other material .. .. 40% Musical instruments, including secondhand, being pianofortes, organs, and all parts thereof, and harmoniums, including pianoforte-actions mado up (except action-work in separate pieces), including rails and keys .. 25% Nails and spikes, galvanised, not otherwise enumerated, and wire-nails .. 4/ "ty cwt. OilsCastor and kerosene oils (except patent oiis) not otherwise enumerated .. 25% ad val. Linseed, boiled and raw .. .. 1/ V gah Neatsfoot .. .. .. 1/ „ Paintings, framed or unframed .. 25% ad val. Paints and colours— Mixed ready for use .. .. 4/ ty cwt. Unmixed, haematite or oxide of iron, wet or dry .. .. .. 25% ad val. Ground in oil .. .. .. 2/ cwt. Paper— Bags .. .. .. .. 10/ „ Wrapping .. .. .. 5/ „ Perambulators or any parts thereof .. 25% ad val. Perfumery not otherwise enumerated .. 50% Photographic goods, viz., dry plates .. 25% PicklesQuarts or reputed quarts .. .. 2/9 't* doz. Pints or reputed pints .. .. 1/9 Half-pints and smaller .. .. 1/ „ Pictures, consisting of oleographs, lithographs, engravings, pictorial almanacs, and birthday-cards .. .. 30% ad val. Picture-frames and mouldings .. 25% Pipes, tobacco .. .. 25% „ Powder — Blasting .. .. .. .. Id. $> lb Sporting .. .. . . .. 1/ , Provisions, preserved, not otherwise enumerated .. .. .. .. 20% , Railway materials, viz., railway bolts and fastenings, raildogs .. .. 25% Rugs — Woollen, cotton, opossum, and others .. .. .. .. 25% Saddlery — Braces, web and leather; bridles, all kinds; breastplates, martingales, collars, all kinds; loin covers, horse- and dog-clothing, saddle-cloths, cruppers, gaiters, leggings, girths, head-collars, leather mill-belting, military accoutrements, leather pouches and pockets, horsecovers, aprons of all kinds, rollers and surcingles, reins; saddles, riding and driving; stirrup-leathers,sheath-knives, carioles, valises; straps, coat, rug, trunk, cow-bell, and neck .. .. .. .. 25% Saddlers' ironmongery — Locks, portmanteau ; bags, satchel and portfolio ; mounts for military accoutrements, thongs for gig-whips (add to free list). Saddle-trees — Spring-cart .. .. .. 12/ doz. Riding .. .. .. .. 20/ „ Sauces .. .. .. .. 4/ doz. pis. Sashes, window, plain, or glazed with ornamental glass ; also, lead lights .. G/ $> pair. Shipchandlery — Ships'blocks, wood .. .. 25% ad val. Caulking-irons .. .. .. 20%

Soap— Common .. .. .. .. 5/ cwt. Fancy and scented .. .. 4d. ty lb. Soap-powders .. .. .. 30% ad val. Soft-soap .. .. .. .. 4/ cwt. Soda-crystals .. .. .. 2/ „ Starch .. .. .. 2(1. 't* lb. Stationery, manufactured, including printed cheques, billheads, and other printed and ruled paper, blottingpads, sketch-books, manifold-writers, albums, diaries (except pens, penholders, pencils, pencil-cases, and slates) .. .. .. .. 25% ad val. Stearino .. .. .. .. 2d. %* lb. Tarpaulins, including wagon- and rickcovers .. .. .. .. 25% ad val. Timber— Sawn, rough .. .. .. 4/ $> 100ft. sup, Sawn, dressed .. .. .. 6/ „ Shingles and laths .. .. .. 4/ 1000. Palings .. .. .. .. 2/ per 100. Posts .. .. .. .. 12/ „ Rails .. .. .. .. G/ Sleepers .. .. .. .. 40/ Staves, dressed or shaped, excepting oak-staves in the rough .. .. 8/ Staves, rough .. .. 4/ „ Baltic deals .. .. .. 2/ f- 100ft. sup. Logs, in balk .. .. .. 2/ Tinware, all kinds, including japanned and lacquered .. .. .. 25% ad val. Toys 25% . Twine for reapers-and-binders.. .. 25% , Umbrellas, Parasols, and Sunshades — Parasols and sunshades, plain, up to 18£in. in length of ribs, including covers mado up wholly or in part of cotton, woollen, or other material not otherwise specified .. .. 6d. each. Umbrellas over 18Jin., fancy parasols or sunshades under 18Jin. in length of ribs, including covers made up wholly or in part of cotton, woollen, or other material not otherwise specified .. .. .. 1/ each. Over 18Jin. in length of rib, of silk or silk-mixtures; and parasols and sunshades of all sizes of similar materials, including covers made up wholly or in part .. .. 2/G each. (Present exemptions approved.) Varnish .. .. .. .. 2/.f> gallon. Vinegar .. .. .. .. 1/ Woodenware—Sieves and riddles and all articles not otherwise enumerated.. 25% ad val. Woollens— Piece goods (including vestings, trouserings, coatings, and shirtings containing wool), broadcloth, whitneys, naps, and flannels .. .. 25% „ Articles, or articles made up, or any manufacture of which wool is the most valuable part, not otherwise enumerated .. .. .. 30%

APPENDIX. Aerated and mineral waters, including ginger-ale .. .. .. 15% ad val. Art-union prizes .. 25% „ Bark .. .. .. .. 20/ per ton. Beeswax .. .. .. .. Id. per lb. Boats .. .. .. .. 25% ad val. Ferry steamers, steam-yachts, and launches, not exceeding 100 tons .. 20% „ Boxes, cardboard, empty .. .. 25% „ Bricks, fire (except silica) .. .. 25% , Bicycles and tricycles and all their parts (excepting balls, rubbers, and pedals) 25% „ Casks, iron-bound, full or empty .. 25% „ Chemical manufactures, viz., sheep-dip and foot-rot specific .. .. 15% „ Coals when discharged from importing vessel .. .. .. .. 5/ per ton. Coke .. .. .. ..5/ Cordage, manufactured, viz., sheep-nets 20% ad val. Fire appliances (except hose) .. .. 25% Flock .. .. .. .. 50% Flour .. .. .. .. £2 per ton. Hair, curled .. .. .. 25% ad val.

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Hurdles, wood and iron, for sheep .. 15% ad val. Honey .. .. .. .. 2d. per lb. Iron, rolled girders .. .. .. Free. Limcjuice, sweetened .. .. 25% ad val. Manures— Bonedust . .. .. .. 40/ per ton. Chemical .. .. .. 10% ad val. Marble, and other kinds of stone, wrought, dressed, or polished (except slate, slate-slabs, not wholly manufactured lithograph - stones, and stones for milling and grinding purposes) .. .. .. 25% „

Potatoes .. .. .. .. 20/per ton. Putty .. .. .. .. 25% ad val. Sausage-skins .. .. .. 25% „ Stoneware .. .. .. .. 25% Sulphur .. .. .. .. 2/ per cwt. Telegraph material, insulators, and galvanized holts .. .. .. 25% ad val. EXPORTS. Scrap-iron, lead, and zinc .. .. 40/ per ton. Kauri, in balk or flitch .. .. 2/per 100ft. sup. Colonial beer, rebate of Excise duty.

The following items in our proposals seem to call for special comment : — Apparel and Slops. —The imports for 1886 amount to £203,000. These interfere with a larger quantity of colonial labour, both male and female, than that of any other of the imported textile fabrics. The bulk of the goods are made up on the " sweating system," under conditions almost too terrible for belief, the remuneration hardly keeping the workers in food. Colonial labour should not be placed in competition with such conditions. The Conference therefore propose that the duty on this item should be increased to 30 per cent. Boots and Shoes. —The imports for 1886 amount to £157,445. The remarks as to " apparel and slops " largely apply to this item. The present position of the industry is that, while there are a large number of high-class workmen in the colony, competent to manufacture the very best classes of boots, hardly any of this work is put in hand, the tariff being so adjusted as to induce the importation of these classes. The changes proposed will not only tend to employ a largo number of the most experienced artisans, but enable the goods manufactured by them, and of equal quality with the imported, to be sold at lower prices than the latter. The increased duties now proposed are divided into several sections. Machinery, including Locomotives. —The imports for 1886, excluding certain kinds of machinery not made in the colony, amount in round figures to over £150,000. The major portion of this machinery can lie manufactured in the colony, and the advantage to the skilled artisan in iron will be immense. There is not an engineers' shop or foundry in New Zealand that has not felt the unfair pressure of the importer, the result being that they cannot afford to employ a fair proportion of mechanics, apprentices often being found where there should be old skilled mechanics. Another feature of this unfortunate state of things is in the undeniable fact that the majority of the apprentices in the iron trade as soon as they are out of their time leave for other colonics, where they quickly find the work denied to them in the land of their birth. To show the value to the wageearner of the local construction of locomotives, it is only necessary to mention that in the recentcontract for ten locomotives carried out by a firm in Christchurch £1,100 out of every £1,300 of the contract price was spent in that city for wages and fuel in connection with the work. Woollens and Blankets. —The imports for 1886 amounted to £104,883. This industry is now one of the most important in the colony. Dealing as it does with the raw material produced within our own borders, it has by the application of high skill and the best machinery reached the stage of producing goods equal to anything manufactured in the world. Importers, whoso interest lies in procuring foreign goods, will not purchase the New Zealand manufactures, however excellent ; and buyers who can procure the local article for less money, and still prefer the imported, need have no hesitation in paying the additional percentage now proposed. Coals. —The import value of foreign coal for 1886 was £123,345. As with the last industry, New Zealand can now supply its own requirements and export, the native coal being superior to the imported, and being sold at a lower price. To those who will not admit these facts, the proposed duty of ss. per ton may bring conviction. The Conference, being, however, desirous that steam navigation with the Australian Colonies shall be as free as possible, recommend that no duty be levied upon coal used by steamers trading betwixt New Zealand and those colonies, the duty being collected only upon coal discharged here by the importing vessel. It is needless to remark that if the 120,000 tons of coal now imported were mined by our own people it would give employment to a large number, and keep capital within the colony. Furniture and Upholstery. —The imports under this head for 1886 totalled up to £43,823. A large proportion of this amount meant wages in Europe, while our own workpeople, with an abundance of fine woods at their command, and many of the raw materials on the spot for upholsterers' purposes, are walking about idle. The only cure for this state of things—aggravated now by American prison-labour and Chinese cheap-labour consignments—is to raise the duty as proposed. Candles. —The imports for 1886 were £42,117. With the raw material in every quarter of the colony, and the simplest of manufacturing processes, there is absolutely no reason why every candle used in the colony should not be made in it: hence it is proposed to raise the duty from Id. per pound to 2Jd. per pound. Fish. —The import value of fish of all kinds in 1886 was £28.033. With the numberless varieties of beautiful fish on our coasts, and the fact that this industry only requires encouragement, such as proposed by raising the duty from practically Id. per pound to 2d. per pound, this industry should grow into a most valuable export trade. Linseed Oil. —The imports in 1886 were value £20,872. Linseed is grown in all parts of the colony, and not a gallon of this oil should be imported : hence the duty is raised from 6d. per gallon to Is. per gallon.

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Hats and Caps. —The imports in 1886 amounted to £10,343. The whole of these goods can bo made in the colon) 7, and give employment to a large number of people of both sexes. Since the protection-duty on hats and caps was imposed in South Australia last year, the drapery houses there have formed a hat-manufacturing company, and admit that the manufacture can be equally well done in the colony. Precious Stones unset. —The imports under this head last year amounted in value to £48. Evidence has been brought before the Conference to show that the value was many thousands, and that smuggling in this matter can hardly be prevented. The Conference were desirous of encouraging the industry of the cutting of precious stones by a differential duty between stones cut and uncut, but the consensus of opinion was against this course. The recommendation therefore is that unset precious stones should be duty-free. The effect of this will be to develop the workingjewellery trade without loss to the revenue, and open another industry to the youth of the colony. The following suggestions have been made to the Conference respecting sundry matters in connection with the Customs Department, which suggestions, as they relate to the working of the tariff and arc cordially approved of, are submitted for the special consideration of the Government : — Exemption of Duty in certain Cases. —That, in the discharge of all vessels, it shall bo the duty of the Landing-waiter or other officer to attach a statement showing what goods have been landed on which exemption of duty has been allowed, whether for Government use or otherwise, and by what authority such exemption has been authorised, and that a copy of such statement shall be posted in the long-room of the Customs Department. Shipment of Bonded Goods. —That shippers of bonded goods by vessels on the colonial register shall not be called upon to enter into a bond for the delivery of such goods at the port of destination, that a general bond by the owner or owners of such vessel shall be deemed sufficient, and that within seven days of the discharge of such vessel the owner must be served with notice of any bonded goo Is short-landed, otherwise he is relieved of his bond ; such notice to be given by telegram or post, if necessary. Private Importations. —It is undeniable that the revenue is diminished by quantities of goods being imported by private individuals for their own use, upon which no duty is collected. In the interests of the revenue, and of the industries of the colony, it is necessary that a much more strict supervision should obtain in these cases. The following recommendations, being the unanimous opinion of the Conference, are submitted for the consideration of the Government: — Hallway Bates on Fruit and Fish. —The present rates on the conveyance of fruit and fish by rail are, to a large extent, prohibitive, in many cases leading to the destruction of these valuable articles of diet. If specially low rates were arranged, not only would they be found to assist these industries, but the railway revenue would be considerably increased, as a large trade would at once spring up. Property-tax on Industrial Machinery and Plant. —lt is felt as an intolerable hardship, by all sections of the manufacturing community, that they should be required to pay property-tax on the machinery and plant used in their industries. It is strongly held that these should be as absolutely free from taxation as " agricultural implements in use" and "vessels " now are under the Property Assessment Act. The effect of the present law is to seriously handicap the manufacturing industries, whose profits are small compared with that of other branches of trade. An immediate amendment of the Act in this direction is urgently pressed. Chinese Labour. — The threatened invasion of large numbers of Chinese into Australia and New Zealand is viewed with considerable anxiety by the industrial associations. At the present moment the Chinese in the colony have absorbed several branches of trade, to the great injury of the legitimate settler and trader. They are in no sense colonists, and the united voice of labour calls for such parliamentary action, in conjunction with the Australian Governments, as will effectually prevent the further settlement of these people in Australasia. Industrial Halls. —The varied information put before the Conference respecting the industries of the colony brought out the fact that considerable ignorance existed between city and city as to the manufactures actually in existence in the various quarters of the colony. There appears, therefore, to be urgent need for the establishment of industrial halls in the large centres of population, which shall be used for the purpose of exhibiting samples of the manufactures and productions of the colony. It is suggested that this could be best brought about by the Government providing suitable land-sites, on the condition that the various industrial associations shall erect substantial buildings and fill them with the necessary exhibits. The effect of such permanent exhibitions of the industries of the colony would be widespread : not only would they bring about an accurate knowledge of its productions and resources, but they might be made auxiliaries to a much-needed system of technical education, and thus bring valuable information and instruction to both old and young in the community. Mining Regulations. —This question has engaged the attention of the Conference in consequence of its intimate connection with the labour and capital employed in the mining industry, and the fact that the present laws seriously interfere with the development of the mining districts, and greatly limit the enterprise of the working miner. One operation of the law at present is as follows: A.B. pegs out and applies for a licensed holding. He is debarred from prospecting the same until such time as his license is granted, which usually takes three months, thereby practically throwing A.B. out of employment during that time. The remedy proposed is, to allow every miner to prospect the ground as soon as he has applied for the holding, without waiting for the formal license.

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Another phase of the law is the insecurity of possession to the capitalist who may have spent thousands of pounds in developing his holding; the law compelling the capitalist to man his ground, and leaving him. entirely at the mercy of the Government officer in authority, irrespective of what amount of money he may have expended, This has greatly retarded the investment of capital, and the remedy for this evil is the adoption of the American system, which gives to the holder a patent right upon the expenditure of a fixed sum ; and frees him from the caprice of those in authority. If the change proposed is made, there would be considerable influx of new capital, and the employment of thousands of additional miners. who, it must be remembered, are the best consumers and taxpayers in the colony. Henry M. Shephebd, President. J. Dransfield, Vice-President. T. Kennedy MacdonaldA H. B. Kibk, James Stuart, W. Chalmeks, [.Delegates. W. Hildreth, Owen James Hodge, Charles M. Luke, J David Bellhouse, ) Honorary Walter Hill, j Secretaries. [Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1 ~'175 copies), £& 4s. j

Authority: George Didsbury, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBB,