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88. Can this peel be turned to the same purpose as candied peel?— Yes; it is candied here. It might bear the same duty as the ordinary peel, which pays sd. per pound. Mr. Glasgow : It is 3d. per pound now ; candied peel is sd. 89. Mr. Hutchison.] What was this case of Hudson's?— The Customs demanded duty on this peel in brine, and Stout successfully contested it for them. The decision was, that no duty could be charged. I also suggest that the duty of 2d. per pound on dried fruits, sultanas, elemes, and currants is very severe. The last 100 cases of currants cost me £45 f.o.b. London, and the duty alone came to £96, besides other charges. They came to something like £174. They were invoiced at 9s. per case, and the duty came to 2d. per pound. They cannot be produced in the colony, and I think the duty should be reduced. We have also been paying for a long time an import duty of 3d. per pound on ginger, whether imported for grinding or not—(this is rather a personal matter) —and I think, if any manufacturer can prove to the satisfaction of the Collector of Customs that the ginger is imported for grinding, he should receive a little consideration in the way of a lighter duty. I ask that a concession be made as between ginger imported for sale in grocers' shops and ginger imported for grinding. 90. Mr. Tanner.] What is the cost-price of currants ? —Bs. 9d. to 9s. 6d. per hundredweight f.o.b. London, and the duty is 2d. per pound. 91. Is it true that ground date-stones are used as an adulterating ingredient in the manufacture of pepper?—l have never heard of such a thing; but some years ago I believe olive-stones were. 92. Is it true that ground rice is used in adulterating baking-powder ?—I think it would be hard to say. It is used by beer-bottlers. 93. Mr. Mackenzie.] You suggest that the duty on tapioca and sago, which are at present free, should be £4 13s. 4d. per ton?—l think that Mr. Glasgow's expert opinion would be better than mine. As an importer, it has always struck me that a duty of £6 on rice is very absurd. 94. You suggest an increased duty on these two items '! —l would rather adjust it on the three. 95. Do you mean you do not wish anything to be put on tapioca and sago ? —I think rice should be made a little easier—say, by Jd. per pound—seeing that the others cost the same. 96.' You consider the duty on sultanas, &c, too high?— Speaking from the working-man's point of view, I think it is about the severest duty you can put on. Mr. Mackenzie : It seems to me, seeing that rice and tapioca are absolute necessaries of life to the working-people, it would be far more important to take the duty off rice than to take it off even sugar. Witness: I did not say put a duty on sago or tapioca. Mr. Mackenzie : I wrote it down. Witness : Kindly allow me to correct it, and say, in place of rice being £6 a ton, put a little on sago and tapioca. I should prefer to work in the direction of a free breakfast-table, and to take the duty off the whole lot. 97. Mr. McGowan.] Is it not a fact that rice can be used in a number of ways, in assisting, as it were, other manufactured products? Is it not used in baking-powder?—l am of opinion all baking-powder has a certain proportion of ground rice in it. 98. But sago and tapioca cannot be so used ?—At Home sago is used in connection with the manufacture of cocoa, otherwise it would be insoluble. lam not aware whether sago or tapioca are used in any other manufactures. 99. Mr. Stevens.] Can you suggest any means by which the ginger used for grinding purposes could be distinguished from others ?—Ginger for grinding, no matter how small, as long as it is sound and not wormy, can be easily distinguished. 100. The Chairman.] Do you object to your name being mentioned as having been here to-day?— Not in the least. (4.) Dr. Hacon examined. 101. The Chairman.] Will you state what you wish to give evidence upon ? —-Drugs and medicines. 102. You are a medical practitioner, in Christchurch ?—Yes; I have been in the colony since 1879, and was medical officer seven years at a public institution, where I dispensed the medicines for the Government, and saved the country much expense. I import and dispense my medicines now, and I ask that the duty on imported drugs and medicines should be limited to 15 per cent. At present 25 per cent, is charged on some medicines and appliances. Quinine in bulk is 15 per cent., in tabloids 25 per cent. The consequence is I have had to pay a good deal out of my own pocket, and also am unable, by reason of the expense, to prescribe the latest medicines. [Specimens of medicines and appliances produced.] 103. You think a maximum duty of 15 per cent, is sufficient?— Yes, on a differential basis. All articles enumerated as B.P.C. should, in my opinion, be admitted at the same rates as B.P.— namely, 15 per cent. ; and I ask accordingly. Burroughs, Welcome and Co. have revolutionised medicines by the introduction of tabloids, and I would ask that they be admitted at the same rate as medicine in bulk—ls per cent. 104. The chemists in New Zealand are not importing the tabloids, are they ?—Some few. When the tabloids are wanted the chemists often have not got them. Carbolic soap is now charged 25 per cent., and I ask that it be placed under the 15-per-cent. heading. Carbolic-soap tablets were being sold by the chemists at 4d., but it was no use recommending it to people at that price, so I imported a gross, and you can now buy it at 2d. Mr. Glasgow : It has been decided that tabloids of drugs are to be 15 per cent. 105. The Chairman.] Would you advocate admitting patent proprietary medicines at 15 per cent. ?—Certainly not. As far as lam concerned, I consider they are a bad thing, and all labels should state particulars of contents.