1.—12

XXXIX

provision be made to prevent undue competition from imported chemicals manufactured from tar. Asbestos Slates and other Building-material. Your Committee would commend to the favourable consideration of the Government the claims made for more generous treatment of the young and growing industry in the production of roofing and other building-material, into the manufacture of which cement and asbestos enter. It is claimed that railway freights are a drawback, and your Committee is of opinion that this matter, with others, should at once engage the attention of the Departments concerned. Binder-twine. A serious anomaly was pointed out in connection with the twine industry, so far as the Customs tariff affects the business. There appears to be no reason why the repeated requests made to the authorities should not receive attention. The existing conditions are altogether in favour of Australia, and your Committee, is of opinion that, while no help is being given to the local producers, the revenue suffers because of the anomaly here referred to. (See p. 96, minutes of evidence.) Calciitm Carbide. The Committee recommends that an effort should be made as early as possible to give practical effect to a proposal made for' the manufacture of calcium carbide. On a comparatively small capital outlay the whole of the needs of the Dominion could be met, and a considerable quantity be available for' export. (See p. 153, minutes of evidence.) Casein, Dried Milk, &c. Your Committee has with satisfaction learned that the Government, as well as combined dairy-factory owners, have sent investigators to the United States and Canada with a view of eliciting information that will eventually enable New Zealand to firmly establish the dried-milk, sugar-of-milk, and casein industries. F]vidence was given to the effect that private ownership of certain patent rights was unduly hampering the manufacture of casein. Your Committee therefore recommends the purchase of these rights by the Government, so that the manufacture of casein may be open to all on equal terms. Iron-oxide Paints. Notwithstanding the fact, which was firmly established by evidence given before your Committee, that at Parapara, there exist large deposits of haematite, but little has been done to develop this necessary and valuable product. It is discouraging to find, further, that nearly the whole of this material used by some of our largest public services continues to be imported into New Zealand. Your Committee recommends that the Government should, at once order that encouragement Ire given by State Departments to the producer's in our own country, other things being equal. Marble and, Granite. Sufficient attention, your Committee thinks, has not been devoted to the possible further development of these products. Sound work- has been done through the enterprise of individuals, and there exist to-day works which can and do furnish some of the best building and monumental material to be found in any country. Your Committee urges that greater encouragement be given these industries by including our' marbles and our granites in the building programmes of the public Departments. Sulphuric Acid. It has never' yet been satisfactorily settled whether or not there exist in New Zealand workable sulphur deposits of sufficient magnitude to warrant their exploitation. As pointed out by more than one witness, it is encumbent upon the Government to put- the matter to the test, and your Committee recommends accordingly.