H.—22
52
Having recently arrived in this colony and started a manufactory of American brooms and brushware, deeming the Colony of New Zealand a fair field for such industry, I would suggest for your kind consideration subjoined facts, in order to make the enterprise a success, both in the interest of the manufacturer and the public at large. 1. To admit, as heretofore, the raw material free of duty, in the way of broom-corn, or millet, none beiug grown in the colony. 2. To remit, if possible, existing duties on wire, 19 to 22 gauge, sewing-twine, and other material required in the manufacture of brooms which cannot be produced in the colony. But, as there are ample facilities for the local manufacture of handles, I would suggest leaving the tariff as it is. In conclusion, I may mention that, should this meet with your favourable consideration, this industry will employ a considerable number of hands and increase the weekly wage-fund disbursed here considerably. Trusting that this will meet with your kind consideration and attention, I have, &c, Louis Henly.
No. 48. Messrs. Gibbs and Clayton to Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin. Sib, — Dunedin, 14th April, 1880. In answer to your circular we beg to state that we have fostered a Brush, Broom, and Fibre Company, which promises to be a large business in the future, and. to employ a large amount of labour; and, as the import of brushes and brooms is large, we would recommend a duty on these articles. We may mention that our Mr. Clayton was the first to introduce machinery here for making sashes, doors, and all kinds of mouldings; but the numbers of factories now started in New Zealand have overdone the business. This appears to be the result of too much protection. My opinion is that heavy protective duties are injurious, as local competition is worse than foreign, and we cannot export. We are agents for a broom-factory just started in this city, which we believe will develop into a flourishing industry. We have, &c, Gibbs and Clayton.
No. 49. Mr. Thomas J. Habbtjtt to Mr. Commissioner Tinne. Sic, — Auckland, sth April, 1880. I have read your letter in the Herald of this morning. 1 am a wholesale brush-manu-facturer of some four or five years' standing in the city ; during which time it has been a stern fight for me. The recent addition in tariff will, I hope, do some little good for me in the future. I might explain, however, that, being a maker of household and ships' brushes only, and not a maker of paintbrushes and fancy toilet-brushes, an additional 5 per cent, would be of great value to me, added to the tariff, besides the 5 per cent, already added, the fancy and paint brushes remaining, as before, at 10 per cent. The fancy and paint brushes are a distinct trade, involving more capital but not employing so many hands as the household and ships' brushes industry. So many interests are bound up in keeping the present importing as it is, that it is difficult to get the orders from being sent through the same groove. As a rule I only get in Auckland the orders for such goods as merchants and others run out of while they may be waiting for auction-sales occurring or imported goods arriving. I feel confident of the future success of the manufacture lam engaged in; but meanwhile I should like to enjoy some measure of the success, before I have to leave it to my children to carry on. lam sorely feeling the need of more capital in my business to fully avail myself of the position. By the addition of labour-saving machinery so largely in use in the English and American brush-shops, a much larger quantity could be turned out at a comparatively less rate of cost. When I came out with my wife and family, at considerable expense, per s.s. "Zealandia," I brought largely of various manufactures, intending to have gone into one of the best-paying of them—viz., the manufacture of household crockeryware. However, 1 did not feel able to go at it-ftlone, from want of sufficient capital; so decided to start a brush-factory, in which I have now about thirty hands employed. My goods are well and favourably known throughout the colony. I am now about adding the manufacture of American corn-brooms, haviDg already got the necessary plant, and only awaiting the raw material, which I have made arrangements to get supplied monthly per mail-steamer from San Francisco. It should be grown in this country, and no doubt will be when we get further advanced : meanwhile I import it. I have always been a free-trader, and it seems an anomaly for me to seek protection ; but in a young country industries require nursing and fostering, and one cannot expect them as a rule to be at once self-sup-porting, any more than a young infant to be able to walk right away. Apologizing for the length of this epistle, I have, &c, Thomas J. Habbtttt.
No. 50. Mr. Thomas J. Habbutt to Mr. Commissioner T. F. S. Tinne. Sic,— Auckland, 22nd April, 1880. 1 have thought it well to give you some particulars in a contrasted form, showing the differences, without taking into account the extra gost of remittances, which Home makers do not incur. I have been, some time ago, in communication with Wellington, also with Mr. Stevens before alteration of late tariff, and wish to make you acquainted with some of the particulars which I then sent. Apologizing for again troubling you, 1 have, &c, Tuos. J. Hakbijtt.