L—l 3

1932-33. NEW ZEALAND.

INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). Hon. A. D. McLEOD, Chairman.

Laid on the Table oj the House of Representatives.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the ]2th Day of October, 1932. Ordered "That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider all matters in Ordered, i nai a , -> commerce that may be referred to it : the Committee to consist of Mr. Ansell, Mr nn HaTris Mr H Holland, theHon Mr. MolL, Mr. McSkimming, Mr. de la Perrelle, Mr. Savage, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Wilkinson, and the mover."-- (Hon. Mr. Cobbe.) Thursday, the 13th Day of October, 1932. ni,„ r l «That all netitions not finally dealt with during the session of 1931 be again referred to the J !/tlef ere referred to during, the said session, and that all petitions received during the T932 be dU with a™"they had § been received this session ."-(Right Hon. Mr. Forbes.) Tuesday, 25th Day of October, 1932. n A « j " That the nronosals relating to the sardine canning industry, and to the manufacture of nitrogen, eellufot and and mofor benzole at gasworks be referred to the Industries and Commerce Committee for inquiry and report."-(Right Hon. Mr. Forbes.) Thursday, the 10th Day of November, 1932. Ordered " That the Industries and Commerce Committee have leave to sit this day during the present sitting of the House."—(Hon. Mr. MoLeod.) Thursday, the 24th Day oe November, 1932. Ordered " That the Industries and Commerce Committee have leave to sit this day during the present sitting of the House."-(Hon. Mr. MoLeod.) Thursday, the Bth Day of December, 1932. Ordered " That the Industries and Commerce Committee have leave to sit this day during the present sitting of the House."-(Hon. Mr. MoLeod.)

INDEX.

No _ 1 Petitioner, Ac. J Page, jj Final report .. ■ • 3 Manufacture of nitrates .. 2, 3 ! 102/31, (Sess. 2) .. McXTabb, W N and 18 2 ! others, and schedule ; Sardine canning industry, &c. 2 ! Special report (re Clerk) .. 3

j jfo. Petitioner, Ac. j Page. 97 Taylor, R. D. .. .. 2 10 Wairarapa Farmers Go- 2 operative Association, Ltd., and 26 others, and schedule

1.—13.

REPOBTS.

No. 97. —Petition of R. D. Taylor, Farmer, Hunua, and 1,283 Others. Praying for a reduction in Customs duties. I am directed to report that, as a question of policy is involved, the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 3rd November, 1932.

No. 102/31, Sess. 2.—Petition of W. N. McNabb, Miko Post-office, West/port, and 18 Others, and 11 similar Petitions as per Schedule attached. Praying for legislation making it illegal to impose conditions on the resale of foodstuff, and other matters. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 3rd November, 1932.

Schedule.

Sardine Canning Industry, etc. Ī am directed to report that the Industries and Commerce Committee has considered carefully the proposals referred to it relating to the sardine canning industry, manufacture of nitrogen, of cellulose and other products from Phormium tenax, of rubber products, and of motor benzole at gasworks, and has heard evidence thereon. The Committee, while drawing the Government's attention to the grave danger associated with the granting of monopolies to private companies, even if only for a short period of years, is of the opinion that with adequate safeguards such action may be justified in special circumstances, particularly in view of the amount of unemployment at present in the Dominion, and the possibilities of establishing in the Dominion secondary industries not seeking tariff protection and dealing with raw materials produced in New Zealand. . In the opinion of the Committee, exclusive rights of manufacture should be granted only in cases where large financial commitments are called for, and where the circumstances are of exceptional character, having regard to technical and other features, and where the industry concerned is a key industry or industry of national importance, or where the industry would be a substantial employer of labour. Subject to the above conditions and reasonable prospects of marketing, the Committee recommends that favourable consideration be given by the Government to such applications as are supported by adequate and satisfactory financial and technical backing and subject to satisfactory safeguards against exploitation or detriment to public interest. In the special case of the manufacture of nitrates the Committee recommends that no grant of a monopoly to any company be made until it has had an opportunity of reporting further. The Committee recommends that the manufacture of motor benzole at gasworks be encouraged by granting some concession of excise duty subject to the use of no coal other than New Zealand in the manufacture thereof. 9th December, 1932.

No. 10.—Petition of Wairarapa Farmers Co-operative Association, Ltd., of Pahiatua, and 26 Others, and 74 Petitions of a similar nature as per Schedule attached. Praying that the Commercial Trusts Act, 1910, be amended. I am directed to report that, in view of the fact that the Commercial Trusts Act was passed for the purpose of protecting the public as well as retailers against the fixation of prices by monopoly interests, the Committee is unanimously of opinion that tobacco (including cigarettes and cigars) should not be removed from the Schedule of the Act. While the Committee could not recommend the removal of tobacco (including cigarettes and cigars) from the Schedule of the Commercial Trusts Act, they are of the opinion that the Government should make representations to all sections of the trade with a view to establishing more equitable trading conditions. The Committee therefore recommends that the Petitions should be referred to the Government for consideration. 28th February, 1933.

2

No. of Petition, j Petitioner. 155, Sess. 2, 1931 j B. L. Win and 15 others. 1G4, ,, B. Sutherland and 4,584 others. 165, ,, J. Brown and 34 others. 166, „ ; Mrs. J. Richardson and 816 others. 170, „ R. Trembath and 15 others. 171, ,, i F. Thorpe and 16 others.

No. of Petition. Petitioner. 172, Sess. 2, 1931 Mrs. E. Rostern and 7 others. 173, „ 6. N. Snow and 6 others. 174, ,, E. Samuel and 18 others. 175, „ W. Hannah and 6,000 others. 176, „ L. J. Vincent and 6, 255 others.

1.—13.

Schedule.

Additional Report on the Proposals referred to the Committee relating to the Manufacture of Nitrates. After full consideration the Committee is unanimously of the opinion that no company or organization should be granted a monopoly for the manufacture of nitrates. 28th February, 1933.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that at its final meeting on Friday, 24th day of February, 1933, the Industries and Commerce Committee by resolution expressed its appreciation of the services rendered by the Clerk, Mr. M. S. Pasley, and directed that the resolution be recorded on the minutes and reported to the House. 3rd March, 1933.

Pinal Report. I have the honour to report that the Industries and Commerce Committee, consisting of ten members, has held ten meetings during the session, with an average attendance of six members. The Committee reported on the proposals referred to it relating to the sardine canning industry, the manufacture of nitrogen, cellulose, rubber products, and motor benzole at gasworks. Eighty-eight petitions were referred to the Committee and reported on to the House. Twelve of these petitions referred to the resale of foodstuffs, and seventy-five to amendment of the Commercial Trusts Act, 1910. 3rd March, 1933. A. D. McLeod, Chairman.

Approximate Cost of Paper,— Preparation, not given ; printing (340 copies), £3 ss.

By Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 933

Price 3d.]

3

Petition. Petitioner. 3 H. Jacob and 18 others. 7 C. G. Watson and 2 others. 8 Tatter sail and Bayly and 14 others. 9 G. F. Peters and 16 others. 11 W. E. Clouston and Co. and 29 others. 21 S. E. Priestnall and 4 others. 22 A. J. Makepeace and 11 others. 23 J. Clowes and 4 others. 24 L. T. Cole and 31 others. 25 W. K. Hamilton and 9 others. 26 F. E. Wilson and 59 others. 27 H. E. Hook and 5 others. 28 A. J. Burns and 125 others. 29 L. H. Brian and 46 others 30 C. Jaokson and 33 others. 31 Baillie and Co., Ltd., and 2 others. 32 Irene Ryan and 5 others. 33 Skilfcon and Jones and 70 others. 34 J. D. Forbes and 10 others. 35 A. R. Phillips and 17 others. 36 G. C. Adams and 4 others. 37 J. H. Walker and 29 others. 38 J. Terril and 9 others. 39 J. Deere and 35 others. 40 W. A. Webb and 107 others. 41 G. Owen and Son and 110 others. 42 H. J. Ruston and 2 others. 43 R. Hoppy and 14 others. 44 H. Hewitt and 13 others. 45 L. Turvey and 12 others. 46 M. Reston and 8 others. 54 G. M. Hodgson and 20 others. 55 H. Naftel and 13 others. 56 W. J. Pettigrew and 72 others. 57 T. H. Hughes and 20 others. 58 Economy Store and 11 others. 59 J. A. Doig and 16 others.

I Petition. Petitioner. 67 J. N. Alexander and 18 others. 68 E. F. Lee and 14 others. 69 M. Shine and 8 others 70 M. Luttrell and 44 others. 71 A. E. Crane and 16 others. 72 A. J. Entriean and Co. and 17 others. 73 W. E. Webb and 8 others, i 74 W. J. Harris and 6 others. 75 J. A. Peters and 12 others. 76 W. G. McDowell and 13 others. 77 J. D. Clyde and 17 others. 78 J. Jenson and Son and 5 others. 79 J. Anderson and 8 others. 80 W. T. Elliott and 46 others. 81 R. White and Co. and 32 others. 82 i D. Martin and 15 others. 83 ' C. L. Hunt and 24 others. 84 A. B. Hall and 17 others 85 Rose Bros., Ltd., and 6 others. 86 W. J. Croker and 10 others. 87 H. 0. Orsborn and 36 others. 88 E. Hyde and Son and 19 others. 89 M. E. Norton and 10 others. 90 D. Lewis and 12- others. 91 H. W. MeNamara and 24 others. 93 R. A. Campbell and 12 others. 94 G. W. Hunt and 13 others. 95 A. W. Edmonds and 15 others. 96 A. M. Duncan and 11 others. 104 V. H. Pulley and 8 others. 108 J. S. Porter and 54 others. 110 A. Levy and 39 others. 114 C. E. Whiteman and 64 others. 123 Bills Bros., Ltd., and 6 others. 124 L. Eraser and 37 others. 130 D. A. Savidant and 5 others. 131 R. W. Farrant and 4 others.