H.—lB

XCIV

This points to the need for a systematic and energetic policy to secure the right class of immigrants. The success of the Sedgwick scheme of boy immigration warrants a like scheme being continued. We feel sure that during the spring a large number of carefully selected boys could be readily placed with New Zealand farmers in good homes, with great benefit to themselves and to the Dominion. The assisted-immigration scheme for adult labour is also favoured by your Commissioners. At the same time they recognize that great care must be taken in the selection so as to bring in new labour to the Dominion which will be readily absorbed. For the effective carrying-out of these proposals your Commissioners are of opinion that the immigration-work should be undertaken by a special branch of the Labour Department, which should act in conjunction with the High Commissioner's Office and the British Labour Exchanges.* 9. Transport. —The Commission recommends, — (a.) That all railway rates differentiating between imported and local goods of the same classification, especially those on timber, coal, and machinery, should be abolished. (o.) That one of the first duties of the Permanent Board of Industrial and Social Investigation should be the investigation of the whole of the intercoastal, intercolonial, and overseas transport services. (c.) That steps be taken to give a trial to the motor-trains which are being used so successfully in Europe, America, and Australia, for the purpose of encouraging city workers to live in rural and suburban districts, and thereby reduce the rentals paid in the cities. 10. Municipalization of Markets and Services. —The Commission is of opinion,— [a.) That municipal markets should be established for the sale and distribution of the following aitides: (i) Fruit and vegetables ; (ii) fish ; (iii) dairy-produce, eggs, poultry, honey, &c.; and (6.) Suggests that the Permanent Board of Industrial and Social Investigation should take steps to get an authoritative report on the municipalization of the supply of (i) bread and (ii) milk. 11. Money-lending and Bailments. — (a.) From private inquiries made there is reason to believe that an element of deception exists in small money-lending transactions. A typical illustration is where a borrower obtains £10 for one month and is charged £1 for the accommodation, which is represented to be 10 per cent., whereas the true rate of interest charged is 120 per cent, per annum. The Commission recommends that, in all money-lending transactions, the rate of interest, computed at the annual rate should be embodied in the document confirming the loan ; so that the borrower may understand the exact rate of interest he is paying for the accommodation. (b.) The Commission also recommends that all bailments and documents of sale, and instruments by way of sale or mortgage must show the rate of interest computed annually. The rate of interest must be calculated upon the actual prompt-cash value of the goods at time of purchase. 12. Weights and Measures. —In Chapter 11, page xxiii, particulars of packed goods tested by an officer of the Health Department are enumerated, showing that many commodities in everyday use are sold in short measure and under weight—viz., butter, tea, coffee, jam, marmalade, cream cheese, baking-powder, Highlander milk, dried milk, pepper, flavouring-essences—and in Mr. Greville's evidence, page 448, other items also appear, including biscuits. The Commission therefore recommends that provisions similar to those now in operation in Great Britain should be added to the regulations under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, ensuring the purity and correct weight and measure of all foodstuffs retailed to the public ; and providing that all packages containing food-products should bear a label stating distinctly the net weight or measure of the contents.

Transport.

Municipaliza tion of markets and services.

Moneylending and bailments.

Weights and measures.

* See reservations by Mr. Robertson and Mr. Veitoh, p. xcviii.