F.—No. 1

24

REPORT OF COMMITTEE

Grindery of all kinds being free, as we believe it is in Melbourne, also saddlers' ironmongery, wooden shoe pegs, lasts, collar, check, and riding saddle-trees, would much benefit the trade, by enabling a cheaper articfe to be produced and sold. With these encouragements the Colony would be able to employ a vast amount of labour, and to retain within itself the major part of the amount now annually lost in paying for the labour of others ; at the same time, we have no hesitation in saying that competition would soon produce as cheap articles as those imported. We have, Sec, The Chairman of Joint Committee on Colonial Industries. Ireland Bros.

No. 8. Sir, — Wellington Soap Works, 3rd August, 1870. Having been honored by a communication from you, in which you request certain information concerning my business as a soap manufacturer, I have now the honor of observing, in reply,— 1. That the industry in which I am engaged has hitherto been greatly obstructed through having to contend against large stocks of imported soap, which have been admitted at a duty insufficient to encourage and remunerate manufacturers who have engaged in the trade in this young Colony, where the demand has been naturally limited, and which duty, I would venture to say, if increased to prohibition, would not raise the price to the consumer, even temporarily, to any considerable extent, as it would encourage manufacturers to increase and economize their means of production, when competition w rould produce its unfailing result. 2. Tallow, the chief constituent in soap, being largely produced in Now Zealand, the manufacture of soap is evidently a suitable trade to be carried on in the Colony, being easily and profitably exported in its raw state. lam not in a position to offer an opinion as to what extent the manufactured article could be exported to foreign parts, but have no hesitation in stating my belief that, if the manufacture is nurtured in its infancy, New Zealand will, in time, be quite able to take advantage of any export market that may offer itself. 3. The principal ingredients used are: Tallow, Now Zealand; resin, Great Britain, Melbourne, and the United States ; caustic soda, Great Britain and Melbourne ; palm oil and cocoa nut oil, Great Britain and Melbourne. 4. Sufficient skilled labour is obtainable. 5. £1,000. In conclusion, I would bog to humbly express my gratitude, felt, I believe, in common with tho great bulk of the people of Now Zealand, to the Government and honorable members of the House of Bepresentatives, for their evident inclination to foster native industries, which must eventually benefit, directly or indirectly, every colonist of New Zealand, whether capitalist or labourer. I have, &c. The Chairman of Joint Committee on Colonial Industries. Thomas Brown. P.S.—I have thought that you will, perhaps, pardon the liberty I have taken in fonvarding a sample of my production, taken from stock at random, the wholesale price of which is 28s. net. I may mention that the moisture is attributable to want of age. T. B.

No. 9. Sir,— Wellington, Bth August, 1870. In answer to your circular, bearing date the 30th July, requesting special information concerning my trade as an engineer and founder, I have the honor to report as follows : — My establishment, the Lion Foundry, was erected in 1858, under great difficulties, and for the special purpose of supplying a pressing want, as, before that time, the most commonplace castings had to be procured from Sydney. The number of men then employed was five, and the capital invested about £1,000. The class of work undertaken consisted, principally, of repairs to agricultural implements, mill machinery, Sec, and ordinary castings. The difficulties mentioned were the want of skilled labour and material, the latter having to bo imported from Sydney, at an exorbitant rate, and, owing to the very irregular communication, under great disadvantages. The engineering department was added to the foundry about two years afterwards, when, by the introduction of machinery, the capabilities of the business were very much extended. During the last eight years, by the addition of steam power and extensive machinery, I have been in a position to execute any repairs that have been required by steamers or otherwise, the whole of the repairs to the vessels of the P.N.Z. Se A.B.M. Company, executed in New Zealand, having been entrusted to me and carried out satisfactorily. I have now forty-five men employed, and tho capital engaged is between £9,000 and £10,000. The great obstacle to the progress of this industry has been the want of a patent slip or dock, eight or ten steamers, requiring repairs to the extent of some thousands of pounds, having been obliged to leave this port for Sydney in consequence of this want. I am now completing the erection of new premises on the water frontage of the reclaimed land, at a cost of £5,000, which, when finished, will be the most complete establishment of tho kind in the Colony, and which, with additional machinery, and the use of a dock or slip, will enable me to undertake any repairs likely to be required for a long time. I may here sum up the impediments retarding the full development of this industry as follows: — The want of a dock or patent slip. Skilled labour and larger capital.