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1904. NEW ZEALAND.

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

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

OBDEB OF BEFEBENCE.

Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thursday, the 30th Day of June, 1904. Ordered, " That Standing Order Xo. 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. Ward.)

REPORT.

Your Committee has the honour to report that it has taken evidence on the woollen industry of New Zealand, and whilst it desires to promote the use of New-Zealand-manufactured goods it cannot recommend an increase in the duty on imported materials. The Committee is, however, of opinion that imported cloths and garments should have tickets attached specifying the materials used, and also that garments made up in New Zealand of imported cloths should have a. similar ticket attached. A copy of the evidence taken in connection therewith is attached, and the Committee recommends that the same be printed. 4th November, 1904. Thos. Mackenzie, Chairman.

minutp:s of evidence.

Friday, 26th August, 1904. (A deputation representative of the woollen industry of the colony attended and gave evidence.) John H. Morrison examined. (No. 1.) The Chairman : We are glad to see the deputation here, and the Committee will be pleased to listen to any suggestions that may be made with a view to improving the condition of the woollen industry. Would you like to give evidence singly, or would you prefer that one should speak on behalf of the whole trade ? Mr. Morrison : We have had no conference to decide on any course of procedure, but it the Committee desires it I could give a general outline of what I consider would benefit the trade from my company's point of view and leave the other members of the deputation to express their views on other points afterwards. 1. The Chairman.] You are general manager of the Mosgiel Woollen Company, I understand <— Xes. I may say that lam the oldest manager connected with this industry in the colony. I have been thirty years engaged in managing the company, almost from its inception, and I may say that the starting of it was not approved by the wholesale trade at the time. We had to fight against considerable difficulties before we could get our manufactured articles introduced to the people, but in time their general excellence and good qualities brought them into good demand. Since then they have borne a very fair reputation, and the industry has had a very successful period of existence. I—l, 10c,