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understanding that the article was free ? —-Yes. If you turn to page 5 you will find plate-glass, polished, coloured, and other kinds, 15 per cent.; but, as it states " for fabrication of things in the colony—free," we thought that would not be taken into consideration. 89. Will you explain how that affects your industry ?—We have now to compete with the transparent glass, which is admitted at the same rate as glass already manufactured. The raw material and the manufactured article are both 15 per cent., but on page 52 of the tariff you will find that some goods are admitted free, whereas we have to pay 15 per cent, to import the raw material. 90. In other words, the glass after being bevelled or prepared, comes in free ?—Yes. 91. You prepare the glass, and you do not get any protection for your labour?— That is the position with regard to the small articles, and with regard to the others there is 15 per cent, on the raw material and 15 per cent, on the manufactured, so that in the larger works we are working just level with the imported. 92. What is the remedy you desire?—We would like to be able get our glass in free as raw material for the fabrication of goods in the colony, and then we would be able to compete with the imported manufactured article. 93. Would there be any way of distinguishing glass used by you other than as now distinguished in the tariff? I presume you would not ask that the whole of the plate-glass imported should be admitted free? —No, only for ourselves. 94. Glass of a certain size?— Glass for manufacture in the colony. 95. Have you anything to do with the larger-sized glass—window-glass ?—We have to do with that for mirrors. We can silver any mirror up to 12ft. by sft. 96. Then, to get the protection you desire you would want plate-glass of different sizes imported free ? —Yes, and that would not affect those who import simply to place in windows. 97. You would not gain the protection you desire unless plate-glass of different sizes were admitted free ?—'No. 98. Do your representations cover anything more than plate-glass ? —We silver some sheetglass, but very little. It is practically plate-glass. - 99. How many persons do you employ in the industry ?—Only our two selves. 100. How many persons would be employed supposing you had this duty ?—We could employ about six or seven with the present amount of machinery. There are the other three centres to work on also. 101. Have you reason to think the same thing would occur in Christchurch, Auckland, and Dunedin ? —I hear there is one starting in Dunedin. 102. It would mean altogether that thirty or forty persons would be employed in the colony?— Yes; that would be men, and boys would be required as well. 103. What are the wages earned in your business ?—About 10s. a day. 104. What wages do boys run to ? —A few shillings to start with, and they gradually increase. 105. Mr. Hutchison.] You never have employed any boys ?—No. 106. The Chairman.] I suppose there is no branch in connection with your business other than those you have mentioned ?—Not any. 107. Mr. Hutchison.] Regarding this 15 per cent, on all glass with the exception on page 53 of all plate-glass used in the manufacture of railway-lanterns and lamps ?—They are brought out from the Old Country. 108. The tariff states this glass is to come in free for the purpose of being manufactured into these things. I suppose the lamps will be made here— i.e., the ironwork?—l do not think there are any lamps made in the colony. 109. Mr. Stevens.] Cannot you make lamps in the colony?—We make the glass, as per specimen I have here. 110. Mr. Hutchison.] You say these lamps are not made in the colony. They come out ready made, and are merely repaired with this glass ?—Yes. 111. Are you quite sure that is so ?—Yes. 112. Do you do the bevelling for the Government? —We have done nothing for the Government. 113. Who does the bevelling for the Government ? —The glass is brought in already bevelled. That is the kind of thing that comes in duty-free. 114. The bevelling could be done here ?—Yes. 114 a. Could you do everything that is done in connection with this glass that comes in free for lamps of various kinds ? —We do not colour; we can bevel round, square, or oblong glass. 115. Mr. Stevens.] There appears to be a difficulty in distinguishing plate-glass which is imported for the purpose of being used for windows and to be used as it is imported without any extra labour being put upon it : how would you propose to distinguish the glass which you require to be exempt from duty from the glass used in plate-glass windows?—As far as I can see, you could not distinguish it at all. Mr. Fenivick : We import a better quality of glass for silvering than is usually imported for windows. 116. Mr. Tanner.] Would it mean that you wish all glass to be free, provided it were not worked into shapes, or bevelled, or cut in any way ?—lt would not make any difference to us. 117. Mr. Hutchison.] Have you any objection to it being free ?—No. 118. The Chairman.] You add to your business silvering for the manufacture into lookingglass ? —Yes. 119. Which part of your business gives the largest room for development ?—Bevelling. 120. Then, there is more demand for bevelling than silvering in the colony ?—There is more demand for bevelled glass than for plain glass. 121. 1 find some of the other colonies charge a different rate for bevelled glass to that charged

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