H.—lB

CXX

Roberts, William. M., Master Grocer, Dunedin (6/6/12 ; p. 28) — Re operations Merchants' Association—Prices fixed—Majority of lines tariffed—-Names of merchants in local association—Unfair trading—Selling at cost—Could buy 10 per cent, to 15 per cent, cheaper if market free—Purposes of local Master Grocers' Association. Wilson, K. W., Grocer, Dunedin (5/6/12 ; p. 20)— Be " scaled " goods—Merchants' Association methods—Matters growing worse—-Free competition desirable. Mercer, A. 8., Secretary Master Grocers' Association, Dunedin (7/6/12 ; p. 46) — Be meetings of master grocers and merchants— Re Merchants' Association— Be Grocers' Mutual Protection Association. I. Soap and Candles. Bell, Thomas, Manager Oil, Soap, and Candle Company, Auckland (27/6/12; p. 328) — Prices for soap fixed at certain rates—Company associated with Merchants' Association—Certain discounts given on proprietary lines only—Retail prices also fixed—Duties on imported soap— Be T. H. Hall and Co.—As this firm not member of Merchants' Association, would not get discounts—Considers fixing retail prices justifiable. Hall, J. W., Merchant, Auckland (22/6/12 ; p. 258)— Correspondence with Union Oil Soap and Candle Company read—Supplies of soap, candles, &c, stopped— Presumably not a member of Merchants' Association—Wholesale t and retail grocery profits not improperly high. Bull, E., Manager, New Zealand Candle Company, Wellington (9/7/12; pp. 446 and 484) — Be candles—Prices are not controlled by Merchants' Association—Reduction in prices due to decline in cost of paraffin wax— Be weights of candles—l 6 oz. net always given by his firm-—Present duty ljd. on imported candles— Re Burmah candles and black labour—Prices for candles very low, s|d. and sd. per pound—Trade is perfectly open— Re wax prices shice 1909. Manton, F. W., Candle-manufacturer, Wellington (10/7/12 ; p. 461)— Re candles and short weights—Bulk trade previously done in 15 oz. candles—Since competition started prices reduced to consumers—Figures re fluctuations in price— Be duty on paraffin wax. Frengley, J. P., M.D. and Medical Secretary Department of Health, &c, Wellington (11/7/12 > p. 480)— Effect Sale of Foods and Drugs Act and regulations—Foodstuffs analysed—New regulations proposed—Their purpose— Be food-adulteration—Labelling proposed— Be milk-supply—Municipal control—Difficulty in distribution— Be purchase of food and humbug— Be margarine and local manufacture —Butter defined —Foodstuffs destroyed— Re short-weights of packet and tinned goods. SECTION lI.—CLOTHING AND BOOTS. A. Boots : Boot-manufacturers ; boot-retailers ; boot operatives. B. Clothing and Drapery : Manager, woollen-mill; clothing-manufacturers; drapers and clothiers. A. Boots. Bwunskill, W., Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, Wellington (9/7/12 ; p. 448) — Materials greatly increased in cost—Extra cost of labour and materials counterbalanced by efficient machinery — Re trade in hides—Pays to export —Considers retail profits fair— Re branding boots—Local-made boots as good as imported—lncreased protection urged—Factories in New Zealand manufacturing comparatively cheap boots—Retailed at 12s. to 15s. per pair—Duty off slippers agreed to. Pritchard, D. X., Bootmaker, Wellington (10/7/12 ; p. 469)— Certain classes of imported boots preferred—Samples produced locally made goods—English and New Zealand wages, &c, compared—Branding boots—Suggests branding for quality only—Co-operation of operatives advocated—Statistics re industrial growth—Favorrrs ad valorem, duty—Middleman's profit cent, and over. Ward, C. J., Boot-factory Manager, Wellington (3/7/12; p. 381)— Materials advanced 33 per cent.-—Wages increased but boot-prices not affected—Men more efficient and turning out better-class work—Leather-prices increased from lOfd. to 14Jd. per pound in ten years—Labourcost in making boots— Re tariff—Some lines should be admitted duty-free—Labour-conditions in England and New Zealand—Branding of boots—Foreign names used by manufacturers—Free trade in boots would close up every New Zealand factory—No trouble to secure female labour—lmportations equal quantity manufactured by firms. Allan, R., Managing Director, Skelton. Frostick, and Co., Boot-manufacturers, Christchurch (11/6/12 : p. 80)-Boot-prices increased —Due mainly cost of raw materials—Sole-leather increased 60 per cent., uppers 40 per cent.—Labour-cost increased also—Fashion and prices—No combine—Competition open and free—English and foreign specialization— Re tariff—Duty must be maintained—Local wages—Labour-cost and production, one-third—Cost of children's boots—Scarcity of female labour—Quality of New Zealand bootsAmalgamation of plants— Re boot-importers and local manufacture. Delacour, P. J., Boot-manufacturer, Christchurch (10/6/12; p. 64) — No combination boot-manufacturers —Cost of manufacture locally and abroad-—Tariff charges—Recommends removal of duty on boots under certain value—Wages a.nd leather increased— Re cheap imported slippers and duty. O'Brien, M. J., Boot-manufacturer, Christchurch (12/6/12 ; p. 98) — Boot-prices increased chiefly due cost of material—Leather-prices increased 14 to 16 per cent.— Re using foreign brands—High-priced boots bear foreign brand. Holdsworth, W. J., Boot-retailer, Auckland (28/6/12 ; p. 343) — Effect of boot tariff—Slippers' and evening shoes heavily taxed—Association does not regulate prices—Retail prices quoted—Profits not high—Duty on children's boots—Should be remitted on special lines— Ad valorem duty preferred—Nugget polish a " scaled " line —Raw material greatly increased in cost—Fashion turned trade upside down—Prices on up .grade.