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1904. NEW ZEALAND.

EXTENSION OF COMMERCE COMMITTEE: TOBACCO INDUSTRY OF NEW ZEALAND. REPORT, TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.

Brought up on the 4th November, 1904, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thursday, the 30th Day of June, 1904. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 218 be suspended, and that a Committee be appointed, consisting of nineteen members, to inquire into and report as to the best means of promoting the commerce of the colony, and the sale of the colony's produce in markets other than those at present obtainable ; the Committee to have power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Aitken, Mr. Barber, Mr. Bollard, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Duthie, Mr. Field, Mr. Hanan, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Harding, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Houston, Mr. Laurenson, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. McNab, Mr. Millar, Sir W. R. Russell, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Witheford, and the mover."—(Hon. Sir J. G. Wabd.)

EEPOET. Your Committee report that they have taken evidence from the representatives of three tobacco companies, and also endeavoured to procure evidence from retailers, but found difficulty in obtaining evidence from them. The Committee, therefore, are unable to submit a final report this session, and recommend that the investigation be prosecuted next session. A copy of the evidence taken in connection therewith is attached, and the Committee recommend that the same be printed. 4th November, 1904. Thos. Mackenzie, Chairman.

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