H.—2

XIV

Auckland, Feiday, 26th Apeil, 1895. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: The Hon. Major Steward (Chairman), Mr. Tanner, Mr. Stevens, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Hutchison, and Mr. Mackenzie. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. John Earle, tea-importer, suggested that, instead of the present duty of so much per pound on tea, an ad valorem duty be fixed, and that tea-vendors be licensed. Alfred Kidd, T. McLeod, and J. G. Carr attended as a deputation from the friendly societies, and asked for an amendment of the Friendly Societies Act, subsection (b), clause 13, so as to relieve friendly societies from the payment of stamp duty on cheques. They also complained of having to pay duty on medals used by the friendly societies. Edmund Dutton, of Dutton Brothers, cork-manufacturers, asked that the present duty of 15 per cent, should be raised to 20 or 25 per cent., and that bungs should be brought under the same headings. John Whitney, A. C. Whitney, manager, and J. M. Poole, secretary, of the Colonial Ammunition Company (Limited), gave evidence on the question of ammunition, and asked for an increased duty on imported ammunition. James Thomas Hendry and Eobert Plumber, manufacturers of washing-powder, asked for an increase of 10 per cent, on imported washing-powder. Austin Walsh, of Austin Walsh and Co., tobacco, cigar, and cigarette makers, asked that the duty on imported raw tobacco-leaf be reduced from 2s. to Is. 6d., or, as an alternative, that the excise duty on tobacco manufactured in the colony be reduced by 6d., and that the arrangement should extend for a period of five years. Moses Exler, of Moses Exler and Son, Avondale, manufacturers of jam-jars, asked that the duty on earthenware and glass jars be raised from 20 and 15 per cent, to 25 per cent, all round. Eees George, agent for W. A. Eyan and Co. for Australia for the Union Gas-engine Company of San Francisco, asked that 6d. per gallon duty on gasoline oil be removed. Alexander Bell Donald gave further evidence on the island fruit trade, and spoke against placing any duty on island tropical fruit. John Stubbs, salt-manufacturer, asked for the removal of the 10s. per ton duty on agricultural imported salt from Adelaide. Hon. Mr. Jennings and Joseph Graham attended as a deputation from the Auckland Typographical Association, and gave evidence as affecting the printing trade. M. A. Clark, of M. Clark and Sons, J. F. Logan, of Mackie, Stein, Logan and Co., H. C. Tewsley, and Thomas Finlayson (Sargood, Son, and Ewen) gave evidence as affecting the soft-goods trade, and agreeing with the recommendations of a similar deputation in Wellington. John Elder, agricultural-implement maker, asked that a duty of 25 per cent, be placed on agricultural machinery. John Hall, bolt- and nut-manufacturer, asked that the duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem be changed to ss. per hundredweight on bolts and nuts of all kinds. Thomas J. Harbutt, managing director of the Kapai Corn-broom Company (Limited), gave evidence as to the duty affecting the broom trade. Louisa Davey, dressmaker, &c, asked for an increase of duty on imported ladies' underclothing and ready-made garments for ladies and children. James Dunning, coal-merchant and shipowner, asked that a duty be imposed on Newcastle coal. J. A. Ehodes, sawmiller, of Ehodes and Pollard, asked for a duty on veneers of Id. per square foot superficial. Samuel Martin Green, of Parker, Green, and Co.; Thomas Hodgson, manager of the Northern Boot and Shoe Manufacturers (Limited) ; Thomas Jones, of Thomas Jones and Son; and William H. Hosking, of Hosking and Co., attended as a deputation from the boot-manufacturers, the Auckland Bootmakers' Union, and a combined meeting of master and operative bootmakers, and gave evidence on the question of duty affecting the boot trade. Eobert Salmon, master workman ; H. W. Dixon, past master ; A. Marshall; and F. M. King, secretary, attended as a deputation from the Knights of Labour, and offered suggestions for the improvement of the tariff. Thomas Prosser, George Alexander Coles, George Foster, and George King attended as a deputation from the boot-manufacturers, and asked that boot machinery and boot fittings be admitted free, and also gave evidence generally on the boot trade. Charles George Davis, of Onehunga, asked for an increase of duty on imported glue and size. William Parkinson, marble-mason, attended as a delegate from the Auckland marble-masons, and asked that the duty be taken off imported sawn marble. John Creamer, delegate from tobacco-workers, gave evidence on tobacco, and asked that the concession of 6d. per pound on locally-manufactured, tobacco be renewed. The Commission adjourned at 10.30 p.m. until 9 a.m. to-morrow.

Auckland, Satueday, 27th Apeil, 1895. The Commission sat at 9 a.m. Present: Hon. Major Steward (Chairman), Mr. Stevens, Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. McGowan, and Mr. Tanner. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Arthur M. Myers, manager for Ehrenfried Brothers, brewers and wine and spirit merchants, gave evidence on barley, malt, and gelatinised rice-malt, and as to the number of pounds included