69

1.—12.

F. C. PRICE.

as a whole, and that is an export duty on scrap metal. Scrap zinc is exported to China, and galvanizers have to compete against that. A, similar remark may be made with regard to brass. We have to pay far more for scrap owing to the export. I suggest that the export of scrap should be "prohibited, or an export duty should be put on scrap metal. Thomas Waddell, of T. Waddell, Sons, and Co. (Limited), examined. (No. 53.) I think the speakers who have gone before me have probably convinced the Committee Unit a protective tariff is necessary for New Zealand—in a great many oases, at, any rate. In regard to manganese castings, I may say that they were never made here until we made them. We made the first ever manufactured in the Dominion. These castings have given every satisfaction. We manufacture something like six hundred dozen ploughshares every year. At present they are duty-free; we want a duty of 25 per cent, as against Great Britain and 50 per cent.-against foreign countries. A great many of the castings of agricultural machinery could be made here. With the increased duty I have suggested we could increase by three or four times our output during the year. I include in this reference to increased duty, a duty being put on semi-steel chilled wheels—electric tram-car wheels, but-trtick wheels, &c. Now I come to the materials we have to import for the manufacture of our steel castings. We have to import electroids; also the acid and basic lining for the furnace-lining. They are now charged for at the rate of 20 per cent. A great many castings come in free, and we .have to pay duty on the materials to make the finished article. We ask that the materials I have referred to should be made free. Ido not think it would be fair that the billets should come in free. When we start we intend making steel ingots and give the colonial people a chance of rolling those ingots, provided we get a fair share of the profit, If we cannot come to terms we will have to put up an up-to-date plant electrically driven, but we do not want to do that if we can get the ingots rolled. Then there is the question of refractors. I will furnish the Committee with a written statement. As to the scrap-steel business, I should say that there are approximately 250 tons of scrap steel in Dunedin, which the department concerned cannot handle. About four or five months ago 1 wrote to the Government offering to buy their wrought iron, cast iron, and steel turnings and borings and take delivery at the works at £1 per ton, but I have not received a reply. The Government are dumping the material at Chaney's at present into a swamp. To Mr. Luke.] The Government have manufactured a considerable amount of steel with more or less success. They are not "holding stocks of scrap for the purpose of resuming the steel industry. We could use the steel turnings and borings they are now throwing away. Our manganese steel is quite equal to the Hadfield steel. We are now supplying the Tramway Company with this steel for the jaws of the crusher. With encouragement we could make the crossings, too, quite equal to the imported article. We have made castings up to 33 cwt, in one piece, and lately we made seventeen sets of bogey castings for the Tramway Company which have turned out satisfactory. These are the first made in New Zealand. To the Chairman.] It will be four or five months before we get the electric furnace installed. Four months ago we sent an application to the Government for.a siding at Sockburn, but have not received an answer yet. If we can get the siding all our material will be sent direct to the works there. The stuff would oxidize to a certain extent, but not sufficiently to make it useless. I have done all in my power to help Parapara along. If the electrical process cannot deal with the Parapara ironsand no other process will. The whole thing turns on the cost of the electric current. If the current, can be obtained for one-sixth of a penny it would be equal to £2 per ton for coke. As far as we are concerned, we are asking for extra protection to enable us to carry on. ARTHUR W. Beavin, representing Andrews and Beaven (Limited), Agricultural-implement Manufacturers, examined. (No. 54.) I am speaking as an agricultural-implement manufacturer, and what I want to'make as emphatic as I can is that for many years we have been suffering under a great injustice. Clothingmanufacturers, boot-manufacturers, and others are protected, whereas we as an industry have been absolutely unprotected. Australia could come in and largely swamp our agricultural, implements. They have a free tariff here, but we have a stiff wall to get over in Australia. We consider that we have a fair claim that a duty should be placed on implements as on other lines made here. We ask you to take particular note of the Monopolies Prevention Act, which we regard as a most, valuable thing. We take advantage of it, though not to the extent we might. I think it is a first-rate Act to have upon the; statute-book. We specialize in seed-cleaning machinery, celery-cylinders, and other articles. There are other firms here who specialize in particular lines. In 1908, when we approached the Government on tariff reform, we gave guarantees that would have effectually protected the public, and if anything is wanted in that way now we are willing to submit certain formula' which will, we think, meet your views. Further, I wish to say that the'earriage of goods is a fairly expensive thing. We think the distribution could be much improved, and we ask you to recommend that, the Government shall take goods of all kinds from any one station in New Zealand to any other station. To the Chairman.] We do not manufacture mowers or reapers-and-binders. We do not think they can be made in New Zealand. To Mr. Hornsby.] I will provide the Committee with a list of things that are not manufactured in New Zealand and that we do not ask to be protected. The fact that, firms are specializing more and more every day is a, proof of its success. If the tariff is altered in the direction of greater encouragement to local industries it will bring about still more specialization. We will then be able to install special machinery. It, would be right, in the event of a substantial tariff being put on, that the Government should be in a position to act in the interests of the customer.