H.—45

1890. NEW ZEALAND.

SUGGESTED BONUSES FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF COLONIAL INDUSTRIES.

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Captain Bussell, with the Leave of the House.

BONUS FOR IRON. Pig-iron. A ronus of £1 per ton on the first 5,000 tons weight of pig-iron, of marketable quality, produced in New Zealand, from magnetic or titaniferous ironsand or iron ore, cast from New Zealand ironsand, ore, lime, and coal. The bonus to be paid on quantities of not less than 500 tons produced in New Zealand, and sold there or elsewhere. Bar- or Rod-iron. A bonus of £2 per ton on the first 2,500 tons of bar-, rod-, or bolt-iron, produced in New Zealand from pig-iron cast from ironsand or ore, coal, and lime, the produce of New Zealand. The bonus to be paid on lots of not less than 250 tons, sold in New Zealand or elsewhere at fair average market-price. Sheet-iron. A bonus of £5 per ton on the first 1,000 tons of plain sheet-iron manufactured in New Zealand from pig-iron cast in New Zealand from ironsand, ore, coal, and lime, the produce of the colon v : gauge, 18 to 26. The bonus to be paid on quantities of not less than 200 tons of good marketable sheet-iron sold in New Zealand or elsewhere. Steel Rails. A bonus of £2 10s. per ton on the first 2,000 tons weight of steel rails of first quality, such as ■specified by the New Zealand Government, made from pig-iron cast in New Zealand from ironsand, ore, coal, and lime, the produce of the colony. The bonus to be paid on quantities of not less than 500 tons, sold in New Zealand or elsewhere at fair market-prices. WIRE-NETTING. A bonus of £100 for the first 30 tons of wire-netting for sheep-proof fencing manufactured in New Zealand. A bonus of £100 for the first 30 tons of wire-netting for rabbit-proof fencing manufactured in New Zealand. FLAX. A bonus to be offered in terms of the report of the Committee on Flax and other Industries, dated the 26th August, 1890.

FLAX AND OTHER INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE, 1890.

REPORT ON THE FLAX INDUSTRY. Your Committee have the honour to report that they have taken evidence bearing on the New Zealand flax industry from manufacturers, experts, and others interested in the trade, and have carefully considered correspondence and other documentary evidence laid before them. 2. Your Committee have been much indebted to the able correspondence of the Agent-General, whose evidence, assisted by that of his correspondents, with respect to the present uses of the fibre, points to the conclusion that it is, as at present exported, chiefly used, either alone or in conjunction with manilla, for rope- or twine-making. I—H. 45.