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when I first came here I had an interview with the Hon. Mr. Ward relative to the establishment of a match-factory, and I asked what inducements the Government would give me to establish a business here. He received me cordially, and expressed himself favourable to the establishment of a match or any other factory, and said they would give me all the help they could. I spoke to him about the tariff, and asked if there was likely to be any alteration in it, and he told me I could rest quite assured, not only verbally, but he also wrote me, that there would be no alteration m the tariff during the time the present Government lasted. 641 Do yousmean no alteration in the tariff at all, or in that particular item—matches/—ln that particular industry I was about to establish. In view of this fact, I took some premises here and started in a small way, to see how the thing went. I am about purchasing a piece of land to put up a larger and more suitable factory, 642. Mr. Tanner.] Did Mr. Ward say during the term of the present Government or present Parliament?— The present Government. 643. Then, did you understand that if they were in power fifty years there would be no alteration in that item?— Not in my particular industry. 644. The Chairman.] Can you inform the Commission what is the number ot persons employed by you in the small factory you have at present ?—About forty-five people. There are seven men and boys, and the remainder are girls. 645. What is the average wage of these persons ?—They are all learners, comparatively, at present; but the average wages they will earn in the future will be from 12s. to 15s. a week. The smart girls are now earning, say, 13s. a week, on piecework. 646. How long have they been at work?—We started in September; but the girls have not stuck to their work, and some have left. Ido not know whether there is a sufficient number of girls in Wellington; but I think, when I have a new factory, in a more suitable neighbourhood, they will take to the work more steadily. 647. We had reason to suppose the girls' wages were from ss. to 6s. a week: you do not pay S S . 9—No ; they all begin at 65., and the general average is about Bs. a week if they attend for a full week. I remained here last year long enough to put the machinery up, and then went to Melbourne, and also left a manager in charge. I have only been back a week, and therefore cannot speak so accurately as I otherwise should. 648 How many men are there in the factory and how many lads ?—Three men and tour lads. One man is paid £2 Bs. a week, another £1 55., and the boys from 12s. to 15s. The manager has £3 a week and commission on the business. . 649. Supposing the present factory were in full working-order, and your employes earning the maximum wages, would it make a difference of 25 per cent, in the amount of the weekly wages?— More than that. I find we shall have to pay nearly double the wages we do m England—that is, on piecework. Our girls average in England 10s. a week. The girls here would not earn £1 a week, because they only work eight hours a clay ; in England they work ten hours. The girls here will earn 16s. a week. •,-',, , _ -n 650. Working out the figures you have given, the total weekly wages at present will amount to £29 15s. ?—I think I am in error, because I think they are more than that, 651. How much ? Supposing the present factory were working under the best conditions, and these people were all getting paid on the largest output, having acquired the necessary experience, what would the earnings be ? Would it be safe to say the present staff, under those conditions, would be capable of earning £50 a week?— Yes, if the factory were suitable; but the present factory is not quite suitable. . 652. You spoke of putting up larger premises?—l wish to put up a factory large enough to hold 150 people comfortably. 653. Do you think the trade in the colony will keep all these persons employed !— l do. 654 Do you claim you produce here an article equal to the imported vesta?—l claim we shall produce precisely the same article. lam aware that since I have been away in Melbourne some matches have been made in the colony not up to the mark quite, but 1 am determined that will not occur again. There is no reason why we should not make matches here as good as any m the world. We are now making them in Melbourne, where I have established a factory, equal to anything in the world. I refer to wax vestas. We cannot make wooden matches. Bryant and May are the largest makers of the latter. 655 Are you able to supply the matches made in the colony at the same price, or less, than those we are importing from London ?—We are supplying them at a less price than those imported from Londqn. . . 656. Independent of the question of duty?—lam selling them at a less price than matches imported from London, duty-paid. The price per gross is 3s. 6d., " plaids." Mr. Philips : There are various grades and qualities and makers. Bryant and May s, the only English competitor of importance, with the exception of occasional continental importations, cost, duty-paid, 4s. per gross " plaids." 657. The Chairman.] The localmatches are actually cheaper <?— Decidedly so. Mr. Philips : Our net price is nearly 6d. a gross under the actual landed price of Bryant and May, and Bd. or 9d. below their agency price. 658 The Chairman.] It is supposed to be an ascertained fact that the manufacture you are carrying on Mr. Bell, is one highly prejudicial to the health of the employes?—ln every respect that idea is a gross exaggeration. We have never had in our factory, which has been established since 1832 but one case of the disease known as necrosis, or " phossy jaw." The outcry about that disease is grossly exaggerated, and I have an extract from the Times newspaper which will prove that. It gives the evidence given before one of the Commissions at Home, and proves that there is not the slightest injury to health in the process of match-making except in one department. The girls could not possibly suffer from it, and the only danger in the manufacture is while the phos-

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