81

H.—22

116. You do not use Chinese clay? —l have some, but it is no use; Ido not intend to import anything whatever from Home if I can avoid it. 117. The Chairman.'] Tou have referred to demijohns, and have told us the Melbourne manufacturers supply this market with them notwithstanding there is a 10-per-cent. duty to pay? —Yes ; but they come in filled up with acids, and with flower seeds, and one thing and another. 118. If they are used as packages for different imports, do they come in free ? —No ; there is the 10-per-cent. duty. 119. Even if filled with some other dutiable article? —Yes. Of course I am not yet sufficiently established in the trade to say how far lam able to fight them. I consider myself that with a 10-per-cent. duty I ought to be able to do quite well enough. 120. It struck me as being rather strange that the importer should be able to bear the additional freight charges and the 10 per cent., and still fight successfully the local manufacturer? —I will explain it in this way. The Victorian manufacturer, like the American manufacturer, when he has secured his home trade, anything he does outside of that is extra trade and extra profit. When I have secured my home trade in this colony I shall push my trade to the islands round us and down to Fiji ; endeavour if I can to get a tenth or even a fifth-rate trade with Victoria; and if I were able to go to Britain I should do so. I shall drive my trade as far out of this colony as I can, just as they are doing in Victoria at present. 121. Do I understand you to meaia that the demijohn is exported from Victoria to New Zealand as the result of a genuine and profitable business, or merely as the result of over-production in Victoria ?—I think there is a considerable business done. 122. Actually sent here subject to the charges I alluded to before, and to a duty of 10 per cent., and yet it is still sold at a profit, while the local manufactures cannot be sold at a profit ? —I am not prepared to say that. 123. Is it a case of wages ? Are potters' wages there lower than here ?—No ; wages are higher there. 124. That makes it all the more remarkable ? —I am not able to speak very positively about the matter. I have only just made a start; but I know, as far as I can see, that there must be a large trade with Victoria. The manufacturer in Victoria having his home trade secured and doing a large business, anything else he does outside of that must be additional profit. 125. Filters are admitted free. Have you ever tried to produce them ? —They have been tried. 126. They are not protected by patent ? —No. They are quite simply made. There are many things which I hope to make yet. 127. Are the larger earthenware filters protected by patent ? —The patent has run out. Filters are such a necessary thing to have in houses that I do not think it desirable to put a duty on them.

No. 90. Evidence of Mr. James Fobd before Mr. Commissioner A. J. Burns, at G-lentunnel, 28th May, 1880. Mi name is James Ford, of the firm of Ogden and Ford, brick and drain-pipe makers. I have resided in Canterbury over twenty-two years, and started the business here a little over twelve months ago. I have had an up-hill struggle with the business, but am glad to say that it is succeeding with us. One great thing that would help our business and make it a complete success would be a reduction of the railway tariff on our goods and on coals, as we are obliged to use Newcastle and G-rey-mouth coal in the burning of our goods. The coal from Mr. Wilson's mine is very good; but, as there is no railway to this mine, we cannot use the coal because we cannot depend upon a steady supply. "We get a large quantity of lignite from the Glentunnel mine, which is very good. Had our business been as far advanced as it is now, we would have successfully competed for the tenders called for for the supply of drain-pipes by the Christchurch Drainage Board, which has been obtained by a merchant who imports these articles. We have no hesitation in saying that our manufactures will compare favourably with the imported article in every respect. James Foed, (for Ford and Ogden.)

No. 01. Evidence of Mr. Thomas Condeiffe before Mr. Commissioner Burns, at G-lentunnel, 28th May, 1880. My name is Thomas Condliffe, a terra-cotta manufacturer. I have been over twelve months in the colony, and have started a small business. I procure the material in a hill on the banks of the River Selwyn —-a good, workable material, and the quantity unlimited. I have shownvou samples of my work, and am preparing some of my goods to send to the Melbourne Exhibition. The chief drawback to my business is the heavy charge on the carriage of my goods by railway ; also the high railway tariff on coal, as I have to use Newcastle coal to burn some of my goods. lam going, however, to try some of the Greyinouth coal. I have tried some coal from Mr. Wilson's mine :it is very good—nearly equal to Newcastle for my purpose; butl am obliged to discontinue its use, because there is no railway that goes near this mine, and the cartage is so very heavy —so much so, as completely to prevent my using it. I think it would be a great boon to my business and to the whole district if a railway was constructed to this coal mine. In fact, the railway that is proposed to be constructed ought to run in that direction, because it would tap seams of coal of better quality than have as yet been opened out in this district. Thomas Condlijte, 11— H. 22.