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with my father, been engaged in the manufacture of laundry-blue for the past fifteen years, ten of which were passed in the largest manufactory in Great Britain; and our experience embraces, in addition, the secrets of two of the largest establishments in England. The quantity of manufactured blue at present imported is about 50 tons per annum; its value, at £70 per ton, is £3,500, which, at 15 per cent, duty ad valorem, contributes annually to the revenue £525. In the manufacture of 50 tons of laundry-blue, 25 tons of ultramarine are used as raw material. The value of this, at £52 per ton, is £1,300, contributing to the revenue £50. To ask the Government to remit the duty of £2 per ton on ultramarine, and impose a prohibitory tax on the manufactured article, would be in effect to ask the Government to forego revenue to the amount of £575; but this I would respectfully urge upon them to do, for the following considerations: There is now exported annually from the colony in cash the sum of £3,500 for the manufactured article, while, if it were made in the colony, there would only be the £1,300 exported for raw material; which would leave a balance of capital in circulation in the colony equal to £2,200. The 50 tons of blue at present imported would, if made in the colony, fully employ at least thirty pairs of hands, whose value to the colony, at £15 per head per annum, would be £450. The imposition of 2d. per pound duty on the English manufactured article would exclude it, and colonial-made of equal quality would take its place, without an increase in its price. I here beg to remark that I have good reasons for believing that a large amount of printed matter in the shape of handbills, show-cards, &c, enters the colony enclosed in the cases containing the blue, without having paid the duty charged upon printing and stationery. I have also to add that, in addition to the 25 tons of ultramarine, a large quantity of chemicals, &c, are used in its manufacture, which either contribute liberally to the revenue or are produced in the colony. Eequesting your favourable consideration, I have, &c, Joseph Btjrgess, Blue-manufacturer, Home Street, Great North Eoad, Auckland.
No. 94. Evidence of Mr. Slesinoer, Veterinary Surgeon, before the Commission on Local Industries, Dunedin, 14th May, 1880. I noticed that 25 per cent, was last session made the duty on imported medicines ; but since then I have found to my surprise that the duty was taken away again, and the manufactured medicines placed on the same footing as crude drugs. lam a manufacturer of nine kinds of medicines—two for human and seven for animal complaints. I am a veterinary surgeon of forty years' practice, having passed as such in Switzerland, and practised in Europe, America, and other parts of the world. Within the last four or five years I went in more for the manufacture of those mediciues I have mentioned. They are all appreciated and approved for what they profess to be, and I could bring hundreds of witnesses to prove their curative qualities. Most of my medicines I import, for which I pay 15 per cent, duty —that is, the crude material from which I compound my patent medicines. I employ labour for the manufacture of these medicines. I support the printing trade to a great extent, and have spent hundreds of pounds for labels, wrappers, &c. I am also a supporter of the local tinsmiths, from whom I get the packages for blister-ointment and condition-powders. For these articles I pay, perhaps, 100 per cent, more than English prices. There is a person by the name of Lieutenant James in England who is sending out a blister-ointment for horses. This and all others I have challenged, and offered to produce a similar blister-ointment or a superior article at the same price. The duty was then 10 per cent. I may state that my packages contain 25 per cent, more than Lieutenant James's. His are packed in crockery, which I cannot get here. I have to use tins, which do not show bulk; and thus my packages have to contain eight drachms instead of six. Lard enters largely into the composition of the blister, and that is cheaper here than in England. As far aa patent medicines generally are concerned, I think that if there were a duty of 100 per cent., the people would not lose by it. A less quantity would be imported, but the increased duty on the remaining imports would make up for it. Patent medicines are manufactured by the ton in England in large manufactories ; but here they cannot be produced at a profit because there is not sufficient sale for them. 128. Mr. Stevens.] You were able to compete with James when the duty was 10 per cent. ? — Tes. 129. And you think the duty has not been raised to 25 per cent. ? —Tes. 130. But it has. Here is the tariff [showing it]. —I was not aware of that. It is not generally known. 131. How much of James's blister is sold in the colony relatively to your own ? —A hundred to one. Mine is not sufficiently known, and James's larger pots mislead the public. 132. Does not much of the success depend on advertising ?—Tes; but James's has been wellknown for many years. I sell mine cheaper than his, and, if the duty were raised to 50 per cent., he could still compete with me. I pay 15 per cent, duty on my crude drugs, but I do not complain of that. The country must be taxed. What I recommend is, that a duty of 75 per cent, or 100 per cent, should be placed on the manufactured article. I cannot say whether veterinary surgeons recommend James's powders. I dare say they do. They recommend mine if they know it. Veterinary surgeons commonly recommend such patent medicines as blister, because they can be speedily applied. 133. By Mr. Bain.~\ The articles that I produce are rheumatic-balsam, and cough-syrup. These medicines are commonly known. I have also, for horses, colic or gripe drink, an embrocation, condition-powders, worm-powders, grease-ointment, blister-ointment and hoof-oil, and I have also a powder for distemper in dogs. There is always a certain amount of professional jealousy operating against my medicines, but I know that they are largely used all over the colony. It pays me to sell my blister even at 25 per cent, below the price of James's. One ingredient used in it, cantharides, costs
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