H.— 2

XXXII

A. H. Bridger, of Sargood, Son, and Ewen; James F. Arnold and Sydney C. Brown, representing the Dunedin Bootmakers' Union ; and Robert McKinlay, representing the Manufacturers' Association of Dunedin, attended as a deputation, and made statements in regard to the boot industry. James Joseph Connor (Tablet Printing-office), John Barclay (Mills, Dick, and Co.), and Patrick Leith Ritchie (Caxton Printing Company) attended, and asked that chromo-lithographic pictorial calendars should be admitted free of duty. W. J. Meek, of Dunedin, manufacturer of ink, asked for an increase of duty on imported ink. Gerald Blanchfield, delegate from the Dunedin curriers and tanners, attended, and made a statement in regard to the leather trade. The meeting then adjourned, at 5 p.m., until to-morrow, at 9.30 a.m.

Dunedin, Tuesday, sth Maech, 1895. The Commission met at 9.30 a.m. Present: Hon. Major Steward (Chairman), Mr. Stevens, Mr. Tanner, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Hutchison, and Mr. Mackenzie. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was received from the secretary of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society, Dunedin, offering suggestions on certain items of the tariff as it affects the farmers, but stating he could not attend, as he was not accredited to do so by the association. After discussion, Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stevens, that the secretary of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society be informed that, the Commission having decided from the outset that only oral evidence be recorded, they will be pleased to make arrangements to enable him to give evidence in support of the views mentioned in his letter, and that an expression of opinion from a gentleman in his position will be considered valuable by the Commissioners, whether he has been formally accredited by his association or not. Charles Ziele, managing director of McLeod Brothers and Co., gave evidence on soap- and candle-making, and asked for an increase of duty on same. A. H. Burton, photographer, asked for the removal of duties on certain articles used in the photographing business. Richard Hudson, manufacturer of biscuits and confectionery, gave evidence, and asked for an increase of duty on imported confectionery. David Gilmour Stephens, overseer, Dunedin Harbour-works, asked for the removal of the duty on saccharine tablets. Thomas Kempthorne, of the New Zealand Drug Company, gave evidence on various questions in connection with the tariff. John McPhee, clay-pipe maker, asked for an increase of duty on imported clay pipes. The Commission adjourned, at 5.15 p.m., until 9.30 a.m. to-morrow.

Dunedin, Wednesday, 6th Maech, 1895. The Commission met at 9.30 a.m. Present: Hon. Major Steward (Chairman), Mr. Tanner, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Hutchison, and Mr. Mackenzie. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Charles Ziele attended and made some corrections in his evidence. John Downie Miller, South Dunedin, attended and made a statement in regard to taxing owners of riparian rights. Robert Wilson, representing A. and T. Inglis, boot manufacturers and importers, attended and made a statement in regard to the boot and shoe industry. Robert Cleland, of the firm of R. Cleland and Co., attended and asked that a duty on sheep-dip be imposed. C. H. Statham, on behalf of William Markham, twine-manufacturer, South Dunedin, asked that white cotton yarn for the purpose of making twine be admitted free. J. H. Kirby, tailor and white-shirt maker, asked that the duty be taken off linen used for fronts, cuffs, and trimmings used in shirt-making. Edmund Ogden, Thomas Wall, and Joseph Wood, felt-hat makers, asked for an. increase of duty on imported felt hats. Robert Fergus Smith, of Dunedin, painter, asked for an increased duty on paints in oil and ready-mixed paints. W. T. Glasgow, Secretary of Customs, in regard to the evidence of the soft-goods importers at Wellington, read a statement in reference to the values on which duty is paid in New Zealand. Francis Joseph Sullivan, fish salesman, Dunedin, asked that cotton fish-nets be admitted free, also that the duty be taken off imported Australian wild ducks and imported mutton-birds, and that an extra duty be imposed on imported cod-liver oil. The Commission, at 5.30 p.m., adjourned until to-morrow at 10 a.m.

Dunedin, Thursday, 7th Maech, 1895. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: Hon. Major Steward (Chairman), Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. Tanner, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Hutchison, and Mr. Stevens. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Several applications to give evidence were received, and a time fixed for taking same,