H.—lB

CXXV

B. Hardware. Recce, E. T., Secretary, Recce and Sons, Hardware-merchants, Christchurch (11/6/12 ; p. 79) — Hardware prices decreased—No combine—Prices sometimes raised on verbal understanding owing to rise English market—Free competition in trade—Hollow-ware advanced 25 per cent. Cull, G. L., Wholesale Hollow-ware-manufacturer, Christchurch (14/6/12 ; p. 147) — Increased cost of hollow-ware 20 per cent.—Wages increased 12J per cent.— Re selling conditions—Sellingrates fixed—Gonsumer pays 25 per cent, more— Re Fairbairn, Wright, and Co.—Refusal to supply hollowware unless conditions conformed to—Four manufacturers in Dominion—Plant sufficient to supply Australasia —Tariff 25 per cent, ad valorem —Cross-examined re purpose of association by Mr. Fairbairn. Oakley, H., Wholesale Hollow-ware-manufacturer, Chrktchurch (14/6/12 ; p. 150) — Journeymen's wages 10s. Bd. per day—Rate unfairly high—English wages low to girl employees— Re increased prices of hollow-ware—Cross-examined re alleged combine—Profits of distributors guaranteed—Merchants' Association do not dictate selling-prices. Scott, George, General Engineer and Range-maker, Christchurch (17/6/12 ; p. 181)- — Ranges not increased in cost although labour and raw material risen—Men's efficiency not fallen off—Casual labour not so efficient— Re effect tariff—Retail prices stoves £4 all over New Zealand—Equipment improved—English and New Zealand labour methods compared—Selling methods—Biscuit— Re discounts in different towns—No positive information to give. SECTION VI.—PRIMARY PRODUCERS (FARMING). A. Farming : Practical working farmers ; produce-merchants ; Director, Dairy-produce Department; secretaries of farmers' unions, &c. ; Inspectors, re accommodation provided; Apiarist, re honey. A. Farming. Banks, E. C, Farmer, Matamata (25/6/12 ; p. 291) — Land-values increase 40 per cent, in eight years—Runs dairy farm— Re labour shortage and wages paid— Bolstered-up wages in cities affecting farm labour—Share milking and profits—Prevailing system in district one-third share to workers—Rates of earnings given equal £400 per year for eight months work with free house—Cost of bacon-curing—Average prices for pigs—Cost of education not increased. Flanagan, J„ Farmer, Auckland (20/6/12 ; p. 220)— Re land-values and causes of high values—Labour in short supply—Uncertainty of markets affects employment of labour—Articles produced for local consumption greatly vary in price—Meat and butter not much variation, due to world-wide market—Present selling-prices of land quoted— Be returns for chaff— Farm labourers taking up land—Agricultural Department's statistics no use on account of delay in publication—Country labour short on account of strong demand in cities for men—Cross-examined re labour difficulty—Cost of producing oats for chaffing given in detail. Lusk, D. H, Farmer, Auckland (21/6/12 ; p. 232)— Term "living" defined—Cost not increased—Whole trouble higher standard style ruling—Effect of trusts on prices small—Differences between producers' and consumers' prices—Co-operation urged—Landprices do not affect the prices of foodstuffs locally consumed—Foreign markets a factor in speculating prices—Local prices raised owing to export trade— Re labour legislation and its effect—lnfluence of the value of gold very slight— Be tariff remissions—No appreciable effect on prices—Rents increased but not foodstuffs, clothing—lmmigration, effect of, on local prices—Unproductive or idle land owned by Government and private persons—Land available at £1 to £5 per acre—Cost of living in towns increased owing to demand for luxuries —Movement of population—Migration of country workers to towns deplored —Country losing its wealth-producing labour—Sedgwick's scheme approved—Prospect of country workers excellent— Be increased cost of timber and causes of. Macky, S. C, Ex-farmer, Auckland (28/6/12 ; p. 353)— Flour and wheat quotations 1891 to date—Australia and New Zealand wheat and flour prices compared—Farmproducts, 1901 and 1907 —Effect of Arbitration Act—Advocates abolition of protective duties. Makgill, J. E., Farmer, &c, Waikato (20/6/12 ; p. 223)— Dairy-farmer—Land-values increased over 50 per cent. —Wages paid to rural workers—Meat quotations, Auckland, 1903, 1907 to 1912 inclusive—Labour of children on dairy farms—Does not affect health— Butter-fat prices—Share milking—Milkers receive two-fifths—Earnings quoted covering nine years— Freight charges on wheat to Great Britain. Ranstead, W., Farmer, Auckland (25/6/12 ; p. 300)— Be dairy farms—Land-values increased—Due London prices—If prices fall disaster will ensue—Most farms heavily mortgaged—Struggle to make ends meet—Life very attractive and independent—Operations of co-operative dairy association and bacon company— Be Native land untaxed—Advances to settlers scheme raised land-values. Ross, Alex., Farmer, Lower Waikato (22/6/12 ; p. 261) — Land-values increased 100 per cent.—Engaged in beef-raising—lndustry more profitable than formerly— Dairy-farming discussed—Labour difficulty hampers industry—Pig-raising—Great many farms are mortgaged—Deposits on purchase from 20 to 30 per cent.—Children's work on dairy farms—Cost of living in country not increased appreciably—Cause of increased cost in cities—Better markets abroad raising local prices—City dwellers more given to luxury and amusement—Artificial protection no use—Flour duty should be swept away. Birch, W. J., Farmer, Marton (2/7/12 ; p. 365)— Re depreciation of gold—Protective duties—Groceries, some cheaper than ten years ago—Tariffed goods increased in cost—Duty on timber (hardwood, &c.) unfair to farmers— Re increased wages—Rates compared overten years—Sheep and cattle prices, 1902 to date—Land increased in value 50 to 100 per cent.—lncreased cost of production due to increased cost of labour—-Land mostly subject to mortgages—Standard of living—lgnorance of women in regard to cooking—Evil effects resulting-—Waste, illness, drink—-Increased land-values due increased value of products outside New Zealand mainly—Farm labourers' conditions improving— Re community-created values—Prices realized for sheep, and cost of raising same. Cameron, E. J., Farmer, Wairarapa (5/7/12 ; p. 425) — Foodstuffs not increased appreciably—lncreased wages equals 25 per cent, last eight years—Plenty of work for labour —Land-values very high—Due to skill of farmers in breeding good stock—Favours Sedgwick experiment being extended. Marshall, G. L., Farmer, Marton (5/7/12 ; p. 418)— Re mutton prices—From producer to consumer the prices rise 100 per cent.— Re bacon, potatoes, and onions, considerable increase in cost owing to dearth of labour—Labour inefficient and hard to secure—Savings of farm labourers and prospects—No special demand for labour in winter—Shortage during December, January, and February.