17

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cannot here get through the work in the time the dredging companies wish ?—I think that is the reason. Dredges are being made in Victoria at the present time; but, of course, our engineering shops are so fully employed that they could not take more work. 337. Mr. Luke.] You stated just now that the shorter hours lately have affected the implement trade. As a matter of fact, we have always worked the same number of hours in New Zealand that we are now working —-viz., eight hours a day '!■ —-Yes. 338. And it must be the question of wage which has affected the implement trade?—Of course, the increase of wage has affected it, but in Australia they work nine hours a day. 339. Oh, well, we had always those conditions existing, so that the hours have not affected the trade, but the wages?— Certainly. 340. And do you not think that the dredging business has created a demand for the men who were engaged in the agricultural-implement trade, and that that fact might account for the fallingoff in the implement-manufacture ? —I think the falling-off took place before the dredging started.

Thursday, 7th February, 1901. George Willis Nichol examined. (No. 9.) 341. Ron. the Chairman.] What are you, Mr. Nichol? —I am a merchant connected principally with the grain trade. I have been in business in Southland for twenty-five years. The firm I am connected with has been established thirty-five years. 342. Have you considered the question of this colony federating or not with the Australian Commonwealth?—ln common with most people, I have thought the question out, and my opinion so far has been in favour of federation. I see nothing to indicate that we should be worse off than we are now if we federated, but I think there is a great deal to show that we would be better off in many ways. I consider that, having regard to the surrounding conditions of this colony and Australia, our interests are largely identified with theirs. We are bound to be brought into very close contact with the Commonwealth, and in the future we are bound to be always rubbing up against it. We belong to the same race, we are part of the same Empire, our aspirations socially and our interests commercially and politically afe the same, and I cannot help thinking that if we federated we would not be placed at any disadvantage. 343. Those are reasons apparently which tend more to an Imperial federatian. Will you give us your reasons why you think we should federate with the Australian Commonwealth ?—I think we are already sufficiently federated Imperially. If we federated with Australia we should naturally have free-trade, and thereby a market for our produce and a field for our manufactures. I hold that New Zealand will interchange largely with Australia in regard to manufactures and not only in regard to produce, and that our people are quite able to hold their own with any other part of the Empire in connection with certain manufactures. Take our woollen goods as an example : Not many years ago our woollen-mills protested strongly against the imposition of a further protective duty on woollen goods, because, they said, they could hold their own against anybody. 344. If they can hold their own with free-trade, what is the object of federating ?—I am not in a position to say what is the exact position of the woollen trade between Australia and New Zealand, but I have been given to understand that our woollen goods are largely used in Australia, and that with a protective duty against us. 345. Have you any other reasons in favour of federating?— There is the question of defence. Most decidedly we would be far better off united than disunited. 346. Have you studied the political aspect of the question? —I understand we shall have the management of our own affairs to a reasonable extent, and that only subjects of a general bearing are relegated to the Commonwealth. 347. Are jou aware that if the Commonwealth passed a law which is antagonistic to our State law the Federal law would prevail ? —lt would be a jolly good thing if it did, so far as some of our laws are concerned. 348. Hon. Mr. Bowen.] Have you considered the question of the cost of government if we united with Australia ? —I have read a good deal on that point, but I have not studied the actual facts, nor do I know what the actual figures would be. The cost of any arrangement bringing about a united condition between the two countries strikes me as being merely a matter of " pin-money." Ido not think it would weigh very much in connection with the question. 349. That is, as to affecting the financial position ?—Yes. 350. Hon. Captain Bussell.] In regard to the question of defence, in what way do you think we should benefit by federating ?—ln the event of a danger of attack it would be most suicidal if we were to take independent action without any reference to what the other colonies were doing. In the disposition of a fleet round our coasts it would be well for the squadrons to have some concerted scheme in regard to watching and guarding certain portions of the coast-line. 351. But would that be effected by the federation of Australia ? —I think it would be largely promoted. 352. But surely the fleet is an Imperial fleet, not an Australian fleet?—l think that as time goes on the colonies will have to take a very much larger share in the outlay connected with Imperial defence ; we have hardly done anything so far, and the growth of this Commonwealth will necessitate that question being very much more seriously entertained in the future ; and if we contribute to the maintenance of the navy, I suppose we shall have something to say in its management locally. 353. I do not suppose you mean we should separate ourselves from the Imperial connection? —No; and I think that accentuates the necessity for our getting into closer contact with the Commonwealth. 3—A. 4.