A.—4

G. W. Niool (Nicol Brothers, grain merchants) attended and gave evidence. J. M. Jones (manager for W. Guthrie, agricultural-implement manufacturer and timber merchant) attended and gave evidence. Resolved, on the motion of Captain Russell, That a sub-committee be formed, composed of Mr. Beauchamp, Mr. Millar, Mr. Roberts, and the Chairman, to go into the matter of statistics. At 12.10 p.m. the Commission adjourned until 8 p.m. The Commission reassembled at 8 p.m. J. C. Mackley, settler and butcher, attended, made a statement, and gave evidence. I. W. Eaymond, stock and station agent, attended and gave evidence. The Commission adjourned at 9.50 p.m. until 10 a.m. on Saturday, 9th February, at Dunedin.

DUNEDIN. Satukday, 9th Febeuaey, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present : Hon. Colonel Pitt, M.L.C. (in the chair), Mr. H. Beauchamp, Hon. C. C. Bowen, M.L.C., Mr. T. W. Leys, Mr. C. M. Luke, Mr. J. A. Millar, M.H.E., Mr. W. S. Eeid, Mr. J. Eoberts, C.M.G., Captain Russell, M.H.E., and Hon. Major Steward, M.H.E. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Letters were received from H. Rodda and S. C. Brown (representatives of the Dunedin Bootmakers' Union), W. Carr, and F. Mallard, requesting to be permitted to give evidence before the Commission. The Secretary was instructed to arrange for their attendance, the two former on Monday, as requested. A letter was received from P. Barr, secretary of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, stating that Mr. Theomin, the president, was absent from the colony, and consequently unable to obey the summons of the Commission. A. S. Paterson (grain agent) and W. A. W. Wathen (president of the Trades and Labour Council, Dunedin) attended and gave evidence. The Commission adjourned at 12.15 p.m. until 10 a.m. on Monday.

Monday, 11th Febeuaby, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: Hon. Colonel Pitt, M.L.C. (in the chair), Mr. H. Beauchamp, Hon. C. C. Bowen, M.L.C, Mr. T. W. Leys, Mr. C. M. Luke, Mr. J. A. Millar, M.H.E., Mr. W. S. Reid, Mr. J. Roberts, C.M.G., Captain Russell, M.H.E., and Hon. Major Steward, M.H.E. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. F. E. Chapman, barrister and solicitor, gave evidence, and handed to the Chairman a copy of an address on Australasian federation delivered by himself to the Otago Institute in November, 1899. S. C. Brown, representative of the Dunedin Bootmakers' Union, attended and gave evidence. He also handed in a statement of wages and conditions prevailing in the Otago boot trade. H. Eodda (another representative of the Bootmakers' Union), W. Hood (president of the Workers' Political Committee), Donald Eeid (of D. Eeid and Co., stock and station agents), Peter Barr (secretary of the Industrial Association), and E. Slater (presser, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council) attended and gave evidence. ■ The Commission adjourned at 4.30 p.m. until 10 a.m. next day.

Tuesday, 12th Febeuahy, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present : Hon. Colonel Pitt, M.L.C. (in the chair), Mr. H. Beauchamp, Hon. C. C. Bowen, M.L.C, Mr. T. W. Leys, Mr. 0, M. Luke, Mr. J. A. Millar, M.H.R., Mr. W. S. Reid, Mr. J. Roberts, C.M.G., Captain Russell, M.H.R., and Hon. Major Steward, M.H.R. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following gentlemen attended and gave evidence : A. Burt (of A. and T. Burt, Limited, machinery and engineering works), R. Glendining (of Ross and Glendining, warehousemen and woollen-manufacturers), G. P. Farquhar (of Michaelis, Hallenstein, and Farquhar, leather merchants), A. H. Bridger (manager of Sargood, Son, and Ewen's boot-factory and boot department), J. H. Morrison (manager of the Mosgiel Woollen-factory), J. C Ross (manager and director of the Denton Hat-mills), P. R. Sargood (of Hargood, Son, and Ewen, warehousemen), A. L. Isaacs (manager of the New Zealand Clothing-factory), and R. McKinlay (boot-manufacturer). The Commission adjourned at 3.45 p.m. until 10 a.m. next day.

Wednesday, 13th Febbuary, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: Hon. Colonel Pitt, M.L.C. (in the chair), Mr. H. Beauchamp, Hon. C 0. Bowen, M.L.C, Mr. T. W. Leys, Mr. 0. M. Luke, Mr. J. A. Millar, M.H.R., Mr. W. S. Eeid, Mr. J. Eoberts, C.M.G., Captain Russell, M.H.R., and Hon. Major Steward, M.H.R.

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